1883.] Brewster on an apparently New Gull. 21^ 
feathers, where it occupies a longer space on the outer webs, 
and on the second primary forms a complete sub-terminal bar. 
In Mr. Welch’s example the fifth as well as the second primary 
has a perfect sub-terminal bar, and the sixth shows an inter- 
rupted one ; while the slate spreads over the greater part of the 
webs of the first three feathers, except terminally. This exten- 
sion of the dark color restricts the white spaces at the ends of 
the second, third, fourth and fifth primaries to rounded apical 
spots which resemble those of glaucescens. There is a further 
approach to glaucescens in the unusually deep shade of the 
mantle and the bluish cast of many of the fight areas on the 
primaries, but the mantle is still much fighter than in any speci- 
men of glaucescens which I have seen. 
In many respects L. kumlieni bears a curiously close resem- 
blance to L. leucopterus. It is of about the same size and 
proportions, and the shape of the bill is similar, while several 
of the specimens before me are positively identical in general 
coloring. The only tangible point of difference seems to be 
that of the peculiar wing-markings of kumlieni. This, of 
course, is conclusive, but it is a matter of opinion whether it 
indicates a stronger affinity with glaucescens. Welch’s bird 
certainly approaches glaucescens , and a large series may estab- 
lish a complete intergradation ; but, on the other hand, my 
fight extreme (the type) suggests a similar transition into 
leucopterus. Were it not for obvious considerations I should 
suspect that the bird might be a hybrid between glaucescens and 
leucopterus. This, however, is highly improbable, and the 
most rational conclusion seems to be that it is a distinct species, 
intermediate between leucopterus and glaucescens , but on the 
whole perhaps more nearly allied to the latter, to which it bears 
about the same relation that leucopterus does to glaucus. All 
four species are evidently very closely related and form a group 
of high northern distribution. The range of kumlieni can be 
only conjectured at present, but the evidence indicates that it is 
probably confined to the eastern, and perhaps also northern, 
shores of the continent, where it replaces true glaucescens , which 
must be once more restricted to Pacific waters. Now that three 
examples are known to have been taken near the eastern corner 
of New England, it should be carefully sought all along our 
seaboard, for it doubtless occurs there with some regularity in 
winter, at least during severe seasons. 
