161 



WESTERN GULL. 



"/"Larus occidentals, Jiud. 



(not figured.) 



Two specimens of this Gull have been sent to me by Mr. Townsend. 

 One of them, an adult, is marked, "Male, Cape Disappointment, October 

 7th, 1S36;" the other, a young bird, "Young Male, Cape Disappointment, 

 October 6th, 1836." The iris of both is stated to have been light hazel. 

 This species, which I presume to be undescribed, as I have not met with any 

 account of it, is about equal to Larus marinus in size, and resembles L. 

 argent atas in colour, but differs from both in many respects, as will be seen 

 from the annexed description. It is especially remarkable for the great 

 depth and comparative shortness of its bill, which in this respect approaches 

 to L. melanoleucus of New South Wales. The adult specimen unfortunately 

 has the wings imperfect, the primary quills having been only partially 

 developed; but the wings of the younger bird are complete. 



Western Gull, Larus occidentalis , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 320. 



Male, 27, wing 17^, but the feathers not complete. 



Adult Male. 



Bill shorter than the head, robust, compressed. Upper mandible with the 

 dorsal line straight as far as the end of the nostrils, decurved toward the end, 

 the ridge convex, gradually narrowed to the point, the sides nearly flat, the 

 edges sharp, inflected, toward the end direct and arcuato-declinate, the tip 

 rather sharp; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the outline of 

 the crura slightly arched, the dorsal line beyond the prominence at the angle 

 ascending and slightly concave, the sides erect and nearly flat, the edges 

 sharp, . inflected, decurved toward the narrow tip. Nostrils medial, lateral, 

 linear-oblong, wider anteriorly, in the fore part of the nasal groove, which is 

 rather long and narrow. 



Head large, broadly ovate, narrowed anteriorly. Neck of moderate length, 

 thick. Feet of moderate length, rather slender; tibia bare for an inch and a 

 quarter, reticulate; tarsus rather short, somewhat compressed, covered ante- 

 riorly with numerous scutella, laterally with angular scales, behind with 



Vol. VII. 24 



