CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 125 



42.1. Larus barrovianus Ridgw. Western Glaucous Gull* 



This Gull is the earliest bird to arrive at Saint Michael's. By the middle of April they arrive 

 in few numbers, sailing high in the air, almost out of sight. Their note, being the first intimation 

 of their presence, is always gladly welcomed as a sign that the ice, farther south, is breaking up 

 They resort to the low places on their arrival and eagerly scan the fissures of the ice for food. 

 They are not at all shy at any season of the year. As they sit on the exposed rocks, just at the 

 edge of the water, a native, or other person, in a canoe may pass so close to them that they may be 

 knocked off with a paddle. At times they wrangle with the ravens for the offal of fish which some 

 native fisherman has left in the village. This large Gull is not particular about food. Anything 

 which he can swallow is gulped down. I saw a young bird of this species catch a tomcod that was 

 too large to be swallowed. It flew to the bank and picked it to pieces. This bird had been follow- 

 ing my canoe for many hundred yards, and when it caught the fish it was not twenty feet away. 



This Gull nests in a tussock of grass that may grow in the middle of a pond in the lowlands, 

 otherwise foxes might disturb it. The nest is built of grass and other material. The eggs are 

 deposited early in June and are two or three in number. Should the eggs be removed the parent 

 will renew the complement, but only one or two will be laid. The period of incubation is about 

 three weeks. The young are downy and pure white on their first appearance, but soon change 

 to gray with darker mottliugs. The plumage in the fall of the first year is dark and remains so 

 until the fall of the second year, when it is changed to a much lighter shade. The spring of the 

 third year gives it the adult plumage of pearl gray and white. A most beautiful bird, so neat in 

 plumage that, though it walks the muddiest beach and sits in the mouths of the little streams, 

 which pour out a torrent of muddy water after a hard rain, not a single feather will be soiled. 

 Among the Aleutian Islands these birds remain throughout the year, though in winter much less 

 in number. They are compelled by severe periods of weather to come directly into the villages for 

 food. I have frequently seen them sitting on the sod-covered houses of the the natives. At these 

 times I have seen them scarcely fly when approached. They sit among the breakers of the little 

 bays, and when a wave would come and threaten to upset them a single flap of their large wings 

 enabled the wave to pass beneath without disturbance to the bird, which was waiting for the 

 undertow to wash up some refuse matter that would offord a morsel of food. They frequently get 

 rolled over by a wave when their attention is too deeply riveted on some object that a previous 

 wave had brought to view. When taking flight from the water these Gulls spread their wings out 

 and run for several feet on the surface of the water. 



This Gull is especially numerous in some localities. At Saint Michael's but few breed, while 

 on some of the Aleutian islands, especially Akutau, Umnak, Amchitka, Amlia, many thousands 

 breed. At Karluk, on the northwest shoulder of Kadiak, I saw countless thousands of these Gulls 

 in August, 1881, as they were on the cliffs near the fishing station. 



The bill and the feet of the young bird are brown to lead gray. The adult has flesh colored 

 feet, and yellow bill, on which is a red spot near the end of the lower mandible. 



The note of this bird is variable, in spring a harsh Tcaou", which changes to a deep honkin a few 

 weeks. When flying along the shore a prolonged, grunting croak is uttered. I have also ob- 

 served that the Western Glaucus Gull changes its note during the winter, as at this time a note is 

 uttered which is heard at no other season ; and in the spring the note is not again heard. 



The Eskimo name for the Western Glaucus Gull is Ko ke'zh viik, meaning the large one utter- 

 ing Ico ke. 



The Aleuts have several names for it to indicate the special plumages as are shown by the age 

 of the bird. The adult is called Hlu kakh, and is derived from the note of this species. 



There is no special use made of these birds by any of the natives of Northern Alaska, except 

 for food. The flesh of the young bird is considered excellent, and when other food is scarce an old 

 Gull is often killed for that purpose. The eggs of this species are excellent when fresh, but become 

 rancid in a few days. 



44. Larus glaucescens Naum. Glaucovs-winged Gull. 

 This Gull occurs sparingly in the vicinity of Saint Michael's, where I obtained one specimen. 



*See "Auk," July, 1886, pp. 330-1. 



