14 
BONAPARTE’S GULL. 
than the decidedly cuneiform tail, of which the central feathers are an inch 
longer than the lateral. Tarsi rather stout ; the thumb very distinct, armed 
with a nail as large as that of the outer toe. 
“ The other specimen killed by Mr. Sherer a few days later, differs only 
in the first primary coverts having the same dark colour with the outer web 
of the first primary itself. 
“ Length to end of tail 14 inches ; tail 5i ; wing 104 ; bill along the 
ridge f ; rictus H ; from nostril to tip of bill ; tarsus 1 T V ; middle 
toe V°| ; its nail ^ • 
Larus Rossii, Cuneate-tailed Gull, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 427, 
Ross’ Gull, Larus Rossii , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 324. 
Adult, 14 ; wing 10$. 
Arctic Seas. 
BONAPAKTE’S GULL. 
Larus Bonapartii, Richardson. 
PLATE CCCCXLII. — Male, Female, and Young. 
My first acquaintance with this species took place whilst I was at Cin- 
cinnati, in the beginning of August, 1819. I was crossing the Ohio, along 
witfi Mr. Robert Best, then curator of the Cincinnati Museum, for the 
purpose of visiting the Cliff Swallows which had taken up their abode on the 
walls of the garrison on the Kentucky side, when we observed two Gulls 
sweeping gracefully over the tranquil waters. Now they would alight side 
by side, as if intent on holding a close conversation ; then they would rise on 
wing and range about, looking downwards with sidelong glances, searching 
for small fishes, or perhaps eyeing the bits of garbage that floated on the 
surface. We watched them for nearly half an hour, and having learned 
something of their manners, shot one, which happened to be a female. On 
her dropping, her mate almost immediately alighted beside her, and was 
shot. There, side by side, as in life, so in death, floated the lovely birds. 
One, having a dark bluish nearly black head, was found to be the male ; the 
