12 
Larus schistisagus Stejneger. Slaty-backed Gull 
This black-backed gull was reported by one of the sailors near Bering 
island on April 25, and several were met next day at Oest, Kamchatka. 
From this, southward, a few scattered individuals were seen almost daily 
and, at Petropavlovsk and Kashawabara bay (Paramushir island), there 
were small flocks in the harbours. It was last seen in the spring at Yetorup 
island. During the return voyage it was noted first again at Broughton 
bay, July 13, and daily in small numbers up the coast to Petropavlovsk, 
where it was breeding on the bird rocks at the entrance to the bay. It was 
not seen at Bering island during the day spent at Nikolski, August 3. In 
general behaviour and voice this gull is very much like the Glaucous-winged 
relative. The adult schistisagus has a yellow beak with red spot on 
lower mandible and the toes and tarsus are reddish flesh-colour. The eye- 
ring is deep purplish red, and the iris yellowish grey. Very few young or 
intermediate plumages were seen. 
$ Paramushir island, Kuril islands. May 3. Summer adult. 
9 Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka. July 21, Summer adult. 
Larus argentatus Pontoppidan. Herring Gull 
Birds of this type were seen on only a few occasions, in spring, along 
the inside passage, notably north of Seymour narrows, March 2, and off 
the harbour of Prince Rupert on March 6, when hundreds were mixed 
with the Glaucous-winged. These birds in winter are given to forming 
flocks of their own kind, holding off the harbours of these waters. A study 
of these flocks proves that almost any combination of mantle and wing-tip 
is possible — the blue-greyness of the mantle and the blackness of the wing- 
tip varying very considerably. No light can be thrown here upon the 
problems of L. argentatus, no specimens being secured. The bird was hot 
seen during the return voyage. 
Larus brachyrhynchus Richardson. Short-billed Gull 
This gull plainly holds closely to the mainland; for, though present in 
small numbers along the inside passage in the early days of March, it was 
not seen farther west than Wrangell, Alaska. The largest number were at 
Prince Rupert wharf where a flock of about a hundred, showing a wide 
range of plumages, was studied on March 5. On the return it was met 
first at Prince Rupert, August 16, and thence southward a few appeared 
daily along the protected waters. Study of a hundred birds at Prince 
Rupert showed that at that date not a single one had the pure white head. 
“All heads were capped with greyish. There were many young birds with 
the brownish grey plumage and dark-banded tail and these had pinkish 
feet — not greenish as in the adults. In this juvenal plumage the whole 
beak-tip is blackish. One of the best field marks of the adult wing is the 
white spot that shows in flight near the tip, but not while the bird is at 
rest on the water. The voice of this bird is a dry, squeaky squeal, this 
being the only note heard from them even in the excitement of fighting 
over food.” 
6 Wrangell, Alaska. March 7. Winter plumage. 
