Bendire.] 148 [March 21, 



8.50; culmen, 14.25 inches. Iris ashy white, tarsi rich orange. No. 

 3,9, length, 54.40; tip of claws, 58.75; extent of wings, 90.75; wing, 

 22; tail, 7.50; culmen, 11.50. Tarsi and toes bright orange red. 

 No. 4, ?, length, 53.50; tip of claws, 57.50; wing, 20.80; tail, 7.25; 

 culmen, 11.05 in inches. Not a trace of pink observable in any 

 of the specimens. Both females appeared to be adult birds, pos- 

 sessed the centreboard, and were breeding. An egg nearly ready for 

 exclusion was taken from the oviduct of specimen No. 4. Eggs of 

 these birds placed under a hen hatched in twenty-nine days. The 

 eggs of this species are of a dull chalky white color, and average 

 about 3.45 X 2.30 of an inch. By measurements furnished me by 

 Mr. J. I. Howland, of Newport, Rhode Island, of a number of eggs 

 of these birds breeding at Pyramid Lake, Nev., taken May 15, 1875, 

 it would appear that the eggs found there average a trifle smaller 

 than those taken by me at Malheur Lake. 



182. Graculus dilophus (Gray). Shag. 



A common summer resident, breeding in large numbers on some of 

 the islands in Malheur Lake, Oregon, and also on Sy Ivies River. 

 Their nests are placed on the ground as well as in low bushes. They 

 are small for the size of the bird, composed of coarse drift and small 

 sticks, lined with strips of bark and pieces of tule. They are nearly 

 always placed very close to the water. The eggs are four and five in 

 number, pale green in color, and partly covered with a white calca- 

 reous matter. They average about 2.42 X 1-48 inches. There is a 

 great deal of variation in their size, their shape is an elongated oval. 

 The young of this species are perfectly devoid of down and feathers 

 for the first two or three weeks, their skin is a deep glossy black 

 throughout. These birds commence laying about April 20. 



183. Larus occidentalis (Aud.). Western Gull? 



I think this species breeds here, but I have not shot any specimens. 

 A gull considerably larger than the next is quite common on the 

 lake, perhaps var. Smithsonianus (Coues). 



184. Larus calif ornicus (Lawr.). Californian Gull. 



A common summer resident on Malheur Lake, where it breeds. 



185. Larus delawarensis (Ord.). Ring-billed Gull. 

 Also a common summer resident; breeds. 



186. Sterna Forsteri (Nuttall). Forster's Tern. 



Also common in the spring, and probably breeds somewhere in 

 Malheur Lake. 





