190S.] 



BIEDS. 



267 



larus californicus Lawr. California Gull. 



This western gull is a common breeder about Great Slave Lake, 

 and has been noted also from the lower Anderson. 



In 1901 we first noted it at Fort Resolution, Mackenzie, July 8, 

 wlien several were seen flying about over the lake. They are usually 

 easily distinguished from the herring gulls by their smaller size, dif- 

 ferent cry. and by the greater amount of black on the primaries. 

 The species was abundant about Loon Island. July 11 to IL where 

 ()0 or 70 pairs were nesting on the small adjoining island before re- 

 ferred to. They seemed to lay a little later than the herring gulls, 

 as most of the imhatched eggs were of the present species. Thre? 

 fine adults and a young one a few days old were collected July 13 and 

 14. A few Avere seen at Trout Rock. July 16, and at Fort Rae, July 

 •24:. While crossing Great Slave Lake by steamer from Fort Rae to 

 Fort Resolution, July 30, many Avere observed near Hardisty Island. 



In 1903 I noted the California gull at Fort Resolution, July T, and 

 several times among the islands between Fort Resolution and Fort 

 Rae, July IT to 2G. 



In 1904, while on my return trip, I found it rather common on 

 Great Slave Lake. July 30 and 31. 



Baird. Brewer, and Ridgway record eggs taken near Fort Resolu- 

 tion, and specimens of the birds from the same place, and from Fort 

 Simpson and Big Island.'' MacFarlane reported nests found near 

 Fort Anderson, and received specimens with eggs from lower Ander- 

 son River.^ 



Larus delawarensis Ord. Ring-billed Gull. 



This species occurs in summer north to Great Slave Lake, where 

 it is one of the rarest of the breeding gulls. 



AVhile we were descending Athabaska River in 1901 a flock of 

 these gulls was seen at the mouth of Pelican River, 100 miles below 

 Athabaska Landing,' on May 9. 



In 1903 we saw a few at a small slough near Sturgeon River, 

 Alberta, May 12, and several on the Athabaska near Pelican River, 

 May 18. "While at Fort Chipewyan we noted a few, June 3 and 4, 

 and we observed the species near Smith Landing, June 10. Alfred 

 E. Preble and Merritt Cary noted two near the Desmarais Islands, 

 July 1, and one at Fort Providence a few days later. 



Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway record eggs of the ring-billed gull 

 from Great Slave Lake.^ Russell has recorded specimens taken at 

 Fort Chipewyan in the spring of 1893,^ and an adult taken by him 

 there has been examined during the preparation of this report. 



^' Water Birds N. A., II, p. 244, 1884. 

 ^ Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, p. 418, 1891. 

 c Water Birds N. A., II, p. 247, 1884. 

 ^ Expl. in Far North, p. 255, 1898. 



