44 
WESTERN GULL. 
Larus occidentalis, Aud. 
(not figured.) 
Two specimens of this Gull have been sent to me by Mr. Townsend. 
One of them, an adult, is marked, “ Male, Cape Disappointment, October 
7th, 1836 the other, a young bird, “Young Male, Cape Disappointment, 
October 6th, 1836.” The iris of both is stated to have been light hazel. 
This species, which I presume to be undescribed, as I have not met with any 
account of it, is about equal to Larus marinus in size, and resembles L. 
argentatus in colour, but differs from both in many respects, as will be seen 
from the annexed description. It is especially remarkable for the great 
* dopth and comparative shortness of its bill, which in this respect approaches 
to L. melanoleucus of New South Wales. The adult specimen unfortunately 
has the wings imperfect, the primary quills having been only partially 
developed ; but the wings of the younger bird are complete. 
Western Gull, Larus occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 320. 
Male, 27, wing 17J, but the feathers not complete. 
Adult Male. 
Bill shorter than the head, robust, compressed. Upper mandible with 
the dorsal line straight as far as the end of the nostrils, decurved toward 
the end, the ridge convex, gradually narrowed to the point, the sides nearly 
flat, the edges sharp, inflected, toward the end direct and arcuato-declinate, 
the tip rather sharp ; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the 
outline off the crura slightly arched, the dorsal line beyond the prominence 
at the angle ascending and slightly concave, the sides erect and nearly flat, 
the edges sharp, inflected, decurved toward the narrow tip. Nostrils me- 
dial, lateral, linear-oblong, wider anteriorly, in the fore part of the nasal 
groove, which is rather long and narrow. 
Head large, broadly ovate, narrowed anteriorly. Neck of moderate length, 
thick. Feet of moderate length, rather slender ; tibia bare for an inch and 
a quarter, reticulate ; tarsus rather short, somewhat compressed, covered 
anteriorly with numerous scutella, laterally with angular scales, behind with 
