franklin’s rosey gull. 
353 
markings on the tertiaries, primary coverts, and bastard 
wing, with an imperfect sub-terminal bar on the tail, 
point it out as a young bird, most probably commencing 
its second spring. The rest of its plumage corresponds 
with that of L . zonorhynchus , except that it wants the 
extreme white tips of the quill feathers, which, on the 
third and following ones, are very conspicuous in L. 
zonorhynchus. It differs, however, remarkably in its 
bill being shorter, though considerably stouter than 
that of our L. canus ; and, like it, it is wax yellow, 
with a bright yellow rictus and point. Its tarsus is 
nearly one third shorter than that of L. zonorhynchus. 
Many may be disposed to consider this as merely a 
local variety of L. canus ; and it might be urged, in 
support of this opinion, that there are considerable 
differences in the length and thickness of the bills of 
individuals of the common and winter gulls killed on 
the English coasts, which are all usually referred to 
L. canus. We have judged it advisable, however, to 
call the attention of ornithologists to these American 
birds, by giving them specific names, leaving it to future 
observation to determine whether they ought to retain 
the rank of species, or be considered as mere varieties.” 
— Richardson. 
47. LARUS FRANKLINII , NOBIS. — FRANKLIN^ ROSEY GULL. 
Genus, Larus, Linn Larus atricilla, (laughing gull.) Sab. 
Frankl. Journ. p. 695 ;* detailed description. — Ch. Sp. 
Larus Franklinii, rostro pedibusque miniatis, dorso alisque 
perlaceo-cinereis, remigibus quinque exterioribus nigro late 
fasciatis : remige priori apice unciali albo, tarso viginti lineas 
longo ; cucullo aestate nigro. — Sp. Ch. American laughing 
gull, with vermilion bill and feet; mantle, pearl gray; five 
exterior quills, broadly barred with black, the first one tipped 
with white for an inch ; tarsus, twenty lines long ; hood, black 
in summer. 
cc This is a very common gull in the interior of the 
fur countries, where it frequents the shores of the 
* Mr Sabine observes, that this is the L. atricilla of Linnaeus, 
but not of Temminck. — R. 
VOL. IV. 
z 
12 
