LARUS OCCIDENT ALLS. 
WESTERN GULL. 
LARUS OOCIDENTALIS. Add, B. of Amer., Vol. VII., p. 161. Id. Orn. Biog., Vol. V., p. 320. Baird. B. of Amer., p. 845. Codes. Rev. 
Larid. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., Phila., 1862, p. 296. 
Although two species of this Gull were sent to Mr. Audubon by Mr. Townsend, he did not figure either of them in his great work, con- 
tenting himself with giving' to the species the scientific name it now bears. One of these examples, he tells us, was “an adult marked, Male, 
Cape Disappointment, October 7th, 1836 the other a young bird, “ Young male, Cape Disappointment, October 6th, 1836.” He gives no account 
of its habits. 
It is a well-marked species, one of its most striking characteristics being the very stout bill, conspicuous even in the young bird. It has 
a darker colored mantle than the Larus Argentatus or Herring Gull, to which it is closest allied, and may always be distinguished from it by its 
large bill. 
The adult has back and wings a dark grayish blue; the primaries are black towards their tips, most extensive on the first, and lessening 
on the others ; the tips themselves are white. Secondaries and tertials are also tipped with white. All the remainder of the plumage is pure 
white. Bill yellow, a bright spot of orange-red on the angle of the lower mandible. Feet and tarsi, flesh-color. 
The figures are life size. 
LARUS CALIFORNICUS. 
THE CALIFORNIA GULL. 
LARUS CALIFORNICUS. Lawk. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., Vol. VI., 1854, p. 79. Id. B. of N. Amer., p. 846. Codes. Rev. Larid®, Proc. 
Acad. Nat. Scien., Phila., 1862, p. 300. 
The type specimen from which my drawing was made was shot by Mr. E. S. Holden on the San Joachim River, near Stockton, California, 
and described by Mr. Lawrence in the Annals of the New York Lyceum as above quoted. Unlike L. Occidentals, it is noted lor its weak, 
slender bill In the private cabinet of Prof. Baird (as stated in his Birds of North America, page 846) are two examples of this species, both 
of which were brought by Dr. Townsend from the Pacific, and labelled by him Larus Argentatus. 
I am indebted to my friend, Air. Lawrence, for the opportunity of figuring this species, he having kindly lent me the type for that purpose. 
Nothing has ever been recorded of the habits and economy of this bird, but it probably resembles, in both these respects, its representative 
of the Atlantic coast. 
Head, neck, rump, tail, and entire under parts, pure white. Back and wings, pearly blue, intermediate in line between L. Aryentatm and 
L. Occidentalis. The primaries are black towards their tips, decreasing in extent from the first to the sixth, the tips are "white, and the 
secondaries and tertials are tipped with the same. Upper mandible, grayish from the base to two thirds its length ; a black bar crosses both 
mandibles near their tips ; rest of bill yellow. Feet and tarsi, flesh-color. 
