318 
LARIM. 
all the following measurements, &c., were made. This was not, 
however, until the morning of the 5th of February, when the 
irides had faded so, that the colour could not be accurately 
noted. 
: Length (total) 
„ of bill from forehead 
„ „ to rictus 
„ of wing from carpal joint to end of primaries 
„ of tarsus 
,, of middle toe 
„ of middle toe-nail 
„ of outer toe 
„ of outer toe-nail 
„ of inner toe 
„ of inner toe-nail 
„ of hind toe 
,5 of hind toe-nail 
Tibia bare of feathers from tarsal joint 
Wings pass the tail 
in. lin. 
13 9* 
1 1 
1 9 
10 4 
1 
1 H 
0 2i 
1 H 
0 2 
0 11 
0 2 
0 2 
0 1 
0 6 
1 9f 
" Bill in form as described by Richardson, excepting that at the base its depth 
exceeds its breadth. At the base of the upper mandible where the plumage ends, 
it is 2-| lines in breadth, whereas the depth at the same place is 3-§- lines. In colour 
it is black ; paler at the base beneath. Tarsi, toes, and webs of feet of a uniform pale 
flesh-colour, as the ‘legs ’ of the young male are described to be in the ‘ Faun. Bor.- 
Amer.’ These are stated to be ‘ carmine-red ’ in the adult. (In the specimen under 
examination they are just the colour that I have remarked those of the nestling 
Larus ridibundus to be, and which it retains through the following autumn and 
winter ; the adult of this species having these parts of an arterial blood-red.) The 
claws are partly blackish and dark brown. Inside of the mouth pale reddish flesh- 
C£ * As measured by applying a piece of twine so as to touch each portion of the 
bird, in a straight line, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail. The bird 
being laid on a flat surface, the space which it occupied from the point of the bill 
to the end of the tail was 12 inches 6 lines. The length of three specimens given 
in the * Faun. Bor.-Amer.’ was from 15 in. to 15 in. 6 lines. Looking to that work 
after my measurement was made, and too late for correction (the bird being skinned), 
I found that the neck is stretched when the length is taken, whereas in this and 
every similar case, I have been particular that it should never be in the least stretched, 
but placed as it were in repose. Audubon describes the adult male as 14-| inches, 
and the ‘young in December as 13f inches.’ 
“ f The figure of the adult bird in the ‘ Faun. Bor.-Amer.’ does not sufficiently 
exhibit the length of wings : — they are described in' that work as passing the tail 
two inches. 
