186 
Recent Literature. 
bohm and Harvie Brown now show that its true habitat, in the breeding 
season, is in Northeastern Europe, on the Petchora. Specimens in an im- 
mature plumage had previously been taken on the Bed Sea and in India, 
and also one from Novaya Zemlia. It is known only as a straggler to 
North America. 
The only generic names retained by Mr. Saunders are Larus, Xema, 
Rissa , Pagophila, and Rhodostethia. To Pagophila he assigns but a single 
species, regarding brachytarsus as only a synonym ; to Rissa two, treating 
kotzebui as only a form of tridactyla ; to Larus forty-three species ; to 
Xema two, sabinii and furcatum ; and to Rhodostethia one. Although the 
absence of a hind toe has been regarded as the principal characteristic of 
the genus Rissa , and this feature is now known not to be a constant pecu- 
liarity, Mr. Saunders retains it as valid on account of other structural 
characteristics : these are the remarkably short tarsus, its forked tail, and 
the peculiar livery of the immature bird, besides its exclusively crag-nest- 
ing habits. 
Larus hutchinsii Mr. Saunders considers to be an immature L. glaucus 
in that very brief stage where the mottled browm of the immature plumage 
has passed away and the pearl-gray mantle has not begun to appear, — a 
stage so short that but few specimens are recorded in this condition, though 
it is not uncommon in captivity. 
Larus glaucescens is treated as a valid species, synonymous with glaucop- 
terus of Kittlitz and with clialcopterus of Lawrence. Its relationship to 
glaucus is shown by its changes of plumage to be closer than to argentatus. 
Larus occidentalis is regarded as “ a very recognizable form and fully 
deserving of consideration as a species,” L. affinis being its nearest ally. 
Although compared w r ith L. fuscus, it is more closely related to the Her- 
ring-Gull group in its larger size, stout bill, and large feet. 
Larus californicus of Lawrence was first described by Pallas as 
Larus niveus , but the latter name “ is not available, having been previ- 
ously employed by Boddaert for P. eburnea.” This species occurs on the 
Japan coast, crossing the North Pacific, corresponds with the niveus of Pallas, 
and there is little doubt of its identity. The figure given by Pallas is said 
to be a perfect portrait of a specimen recently sent from the Smithsonian 
to Mr. Saunders. Mr. Saunders also shows conclusively that this species 
cannot be the L. argentatoides of Bonaparte’s “ Synopsis,” for that is spoken 
of as “common near New York and Philadelphia,” and as occurring “on 
the southern coasts of England,” while the description and measurements 
suit delawarensis. Neither can L. argentatoides of Richardson be identical 
with L. californicus , for reasons equally conclusive. 
Larus delawarensis is held to be the argentatoides of Bonaparte (nee 
Brehm). An immature specimen of this bird is recorded as from Hako- 
dadi, Japan. 
Larus brachyrliynchus , synonymous with suckleyi and septentrional : s, is 
regarded as an entirely distinct species from canus. In all the specimens 
