NATA TORES. 



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5. Family LARID^.— The Gulls, Terns, Albatrosses, &c. 

 1. Genus LARUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 224 (1766). 



1. Larus dominicanus, Lichtenstein. 



Larus dominicanus, Ltcht. Verz. p. 82 (1823). 



" Dominicanus Azarae, Less." Bonap. Consp. Av. II, p. 214 (1856). 



Gray, Gen. Ill, Plate CLXXX. 



A large species, nearly related to Larus fuscus, but constantly pre- 

 senting distinct characters. It is, apparently, peculiar to the coasts 

 of South America, especially on the Pacific Ocean, but probably in- 

 habiting a more northern latitude than has yet been attributed as its 

 locality, on which account it is of especial interest to the ornitholo- 

 gists of the United States. It appears to be a common bird of the 

 coast of Western South America. 



Several specimens of this bird are in the collection. It is stated, by 

 Mr. Peale, to have been numerous on the coast of Chili, particularly 

 about the Bay of Valparaiso, in the month of May, and is also men- 

 tioned by Dr. Pickering, at Tierra del Fuego, and at Callao. 



We regard this bird as the true Larus dominicanus, of Lichtenstein, 

 and that figured in Mr. Gray's valuable work, above cited. This name 

 is, however, assigned to an African species by Bonaparte, in Conspec- 

 tus Avium, II, p. 214, and the present species is named as above. It 

 is arranged by him in the genus Dominicanus, Bruch, 



2. Larus occidentalis, Audubon. 



Larus occidentalis, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, p. 320 (1839). 

 Larus niveus, Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. II, p. 320 (1811)? 



Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. Plate LXXXVI? 



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