1878.1 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE LARTN^. 175 



before Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie Brown's explorations on the 

 Petchora had made me acquainted with a series of L. affinis, I was 

 much puzzled by Mr. W. Blanford's immature birds from the 

 Baluchistan coast, obtained in December 1871 to January 1872, and 

 I led him into the error of ascribing them to L. fuseus. By my 

 note-book of specimens examined I find that I was in much doubt 

 even at that time, owing to their size and the relative dimensions of 

 the feet and tarsi ; but according to my lights I could then ascribe 

 them to nothing else. I now consider them to have been L. 

 affinis. 



12. Larus californictjs, Lawr. 



1 Lams niveus, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. ii. p. 320, pi. 86(1811), 

 (Kamtschatka), nee Bodd. T. PL Enl. 994 (1783). 



? Laroides americanus, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 743 (1831). 



Larus californicus, Lawr. Ann. Lye. New York, vi. 1854, p. 79 ; 

 id. Birds N. Am. p. 846(1858); Coues, Pr. Ac. N. S. Phil. 1862, 

 p. 300; id. B. of N.W. Am. p. 634 (1874). 



Laroides californicus, Bp. Consp. Av. ii. p. 220 (1857). 



Larus delawarensis, var. californicus, Coues, Key N.-Am. B. 

 p. 313(1872). 



Hah. Pacific coast of North America from Vancouver's Island to 

 Lower California, and the interior as far as the vicinity of Great 

 Slave Lake ; also Japan coast, whence I have examined an adult 

 specimen in the Marquis of Tweeddale's collection, obtained by Capt. 

 St. John, H.M.S. 'Sylvia,' off Kali, Japan, in January 1872. 



The name L. niveus, Pallas, is not available, having been previously 

 employed by Boddaert for Pagophila eburnea; but I have long been 

 of opinion that the bird described by Pallas under that name was 

 really this species — a conviction strengthened by the sight of an un- 

 doubted example from Japan, proving that it does cross the North 

 Pacific. It has generally been supposed to apply to a larger race of 

 L. canus ; but Pallas knew L. canus perfectly well, and he describes 

 his L. niveus as a somewhat scarce visitor to the northern and 

 Kamtschatkan seas, and not in the habit of going far up the rivers, 

 also as "magnitudo corvi coracis." Now the largest L. canus could 

 hardly be described as of the size of a Raven ; and, except in the wing, 

 which is proportionally long in that Gull, the other measurements 

 are too large for it ; but they exactly suit L. californicus, and 

 Pallas's figure is a perfect portrait of a specimen recently sent to me 

 through the kindness of the authorities of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion. Perhaps these remarks may assist in laying the ghost of that 

 Larus niveus which for nearly a century has been haunting the lists 

 of systematists. 



Dr. Coues inserts with a ? L. argentatoides, Bonap. Synopsis, 

 Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, p. 360 (1828), as the earliest name 

 for this species, whilst disavowing any desire to supersede Lawrence's 

 title; but as the name had already been applied by Brehm in 1822 

 for L. argentatus, it could not be used for this species, even if correct. 

 But Bonaparte says of his species : — " Common near New York and 



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