286 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYS AN, FTC. 



84. LARUS GLAUCESCENS, Naum. 



Larus glaucescens, Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. x. p. 351 (1840); Saunders, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 284 

 (1896); Henshaw, Auk, xvii. p. 201 (1900). 



Palmer obtained two immature birds in first and second year's plumage on Hawaii on 

 June 26th, 1892. 



Henshaw (I. c.) writes : — " This Gull (Lams glaucescens) is becoming an irregular though 

 a rare visitor to the island of Hawaii, following vessels from San Erancisco to Hilo. I learn 

 from the enptains of several vessels sailing between the two ports that the numerous Gulls 

 that frequently attend the course of outward hound vessels usually turn about when off shore 

 a hundred miles or so. Occasionally, however, one or two Glaucous Gulls, for some reason 

 or other, fail to join their fellows on their homeward course, and day after day steadily 

 follow in the course of the Island-bound vessel. Such birds frequently, perhaps always, 

 roost at night upon the yards. 



"Recently two Glaucous Gulls followed one of the U.S. transports from San Erancisco 

 clear into Hilo harbour, where they lingered for many weeks and then disappeared, no one 

 knows where. This particular transport happens to be painted white, which fact recalls the 

 statement of an old mariner that Gulls are much more likely to follow in the wake of a white 

 vessel than of any other, the simple explanation being that the birds are not so likely to lose 

 track of a white vessel. 



" I have examined two Glaucous Gulls, shot in Hilo harbour, during my five years' 

 residence in Hilo, out of five or six that have been reported in this interval. One of thern 

 was in fine condition, but the other weak and much emaciated. 



"I believe that none of these wanderers ever attempt to return to America, but their final 

 fate is unknown. No hint of the Glaucous Gull establishing itself upon the Hawaiian 

 Islands is recorded, so far as I know, and the Islands are but illy adapted to their habits. 

 The bird islands to the north-west, Laysan and others, would seem to be in every way 

 adapted to this bird, and there in time the Glaucous Gull may become established. 



" That other species of American Gulls occasionally find their way to the Islands in the 

 wake of vessels, especially to the harbour of Honolulu, is highly probable, and only the 

 paucity of observers has prevented their detection and record.'' 



85. LARUS PHILADELPHIA (Orel). 



Sterna Philadelphia, Ord, in Guthrie's Geogr., 2nd Amer. ed. ii. p. 319 (1815). 

 Larus Philadelphia, Saunders, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 185 (1896). 



A young female specimen of this American species was obtained by Palmer at Poli-hule 

 lake on Kauai on the 15th of March, 1891. Palmer found the " iris brown, feet and legs 

 flesh-colour, bill black." 



So far as I am aware, this is the first specimen of this Gull ever obtained in the 

 Sandwich Islands. For synonymy and description, see Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 185. 



