The Western Gulls 



Kawk — a note of inquiry or mere communication; has many 

 modifications and varies from a short trumpet note to the succeeding. 



Klook — a sepulchral note of unfailing interest but uncertain meaning. 



The trumpet notes — long or short, single or in prolonged succession, 

 high-pitched, musical, and far-sounding. During delivery the head is 

 thrust forward, the neck arched, and the throat and mandibles opened to 

 their fullest capacity. These are pleasure notes and are used especially 

 on social occasions when many birds are about — kleer, kleer, kleer, kleer. 



A{n)k, a{n)k, a{n)k, a(n)k, a{n)k, a{n)k) — minor trumpet notes of 

 regular length and succession, used in expostulation or social excitement, 

 frequent and varied. 



Klook, klook, klook — in quality a combination of kawk and the trum- 

 pet tones, uttered deliberately and without much show of energy. Used 

 chiefly in domestic conversation of uncertain import. 



Oree-eh, oree-eh, oree-eh, an an an — an expression of greeting, as when 

 uttered by a sitting bird welcoming one about to alight. The notes of 

 the first series are trumpet tones in which the second syllable of each 

 member is raised to a higher pitch, while the voice is dropped again on 

 the third. The second series is lower and more trivial but still enthusi- 

 astic, as though congratulatory to the guest arrived. 



Ko — shouted once, or thrice repeated, in quelling a clamor. "Hist! 

 Hist! You're making too much noise; he's watching us." 



Arahh — a slow and mournful trumpeting, usually uttered a-wing to 

 express anxiety or grief, as at the loss of a chick. 



Oo anh, oo anh — repeated indefinitely. Notes of coaxing and en- 

 dearment usually addressed to children, but occasionally to wedded mates. 

 The cooing of doves does not express so much adulation, or idolatrous 

 devotion, as the gull throws into these most domestic tones. 



No. 274 



Western Gull 



A. O. U. No. 49. Larus occidentalis occidentalis Audubon. 



Synonym. — Western Herring Gull. 



Description. — Adult in breeding plumage: Mantle slaty gray or plumbeous- 

 slate, sharply contrasting with terminal white of secondaries and tertials; the first 

 three primaries chiefly black on exposed portion, the succeeding three black subter- 

 minally in decreasing area; the first six primaries broadly tipped with white; the outer 

 primary (and occasionally in lesser degree the second primary) white for about an inch 

 and a half subterminally, crossed distally by irregular black area; remaining plumage 



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