GENERAL NOTES. 
Larus argentatus smithsonianus. —In a letter dated Sept. 28, 1892, 
from Captain Edward Fogarty of the Brenton Reef Lightship he writes: 
“Our old friend ‘Gull Dick’ [Auk, IX, 227] has again appeared for the 
twenty-first season, being a little earlier than last year. The bird looked 
as if it had suffered somewhat from the effects of the recent northwest gale, 
for it is minus two feathers from one wing and one from the other, other¬ 
wise the same old Dick. The bird arrived at five o’clock on the afternoon 
of September 28, 1892. On receiving its supper it appeared quite hungry, 
devouring five pieces of pork each the size of a hen’s egg. There have 
been a few other Gulls around the past three or four days, but they are all 
gray ones.” 
On the morning of August 28, 1892, at Nantucket, Mass., I saw two 
white and two gray Herring Gulls, four in all. They probably came on 
the heavy northeaster (wind blowing at the rate of 37 miles an hour) on 
the afternoon and night of the 26th.— George H. Mackay, Nantucket , 
Mass ' Auk X.Jan, 1863. p.76. 
General Notes. 
Further News of the Gull ‘Dick.’ — As the migratory movement of a 
certain American Herring Gull ( Larus argentatus smithsonianus ) called 
‘Dick’ (see Auk, Vol. IX, p. 227, and Vol. X, p. 76) for the year 1893 
may be of interest to some of the readers of ‘The Auk,’ I quote from two 
letters received, in answer to my enquiries, from Capt. Edward Fogarty of 
the Brenton Reef Light-ship, stationed off Newport, Rhode Island. The 
first of these was dated April 10, 1893, and states that the last seen of 
‘Dick’ was on the evening of the 7th inst., just before sundown, at which 
time the bird received its supper. It would seem that ‘Dick’ inclined to 
have company during migration this season, for he brought another Gull 
with him to jointly partake of the supper provided. When the ship’s 
lights were hoisted for the night both birds departed in company, and no 
more was seen of them. The second letter was dated October 7, 1893, 
and informs me that on this date at one o’clock P. M., ‘Dick’ again appeared 
at the light-ship for the first time since his departure. In appearance he 
was ragged and torn and minus tail feathers. He had a voracious appetite, 
eating as much as a hungry dog. It seemed as though he would never get 
enough to satisfy him. His arrival in 1892 was on September 28, at five 
o’clock p. m. — Geo. H. Mackay, Nantucket , Mass. 
Ank XI. Jan. 1864 p. 73 
GENERAL NOTES. 
‘Gull Dick’ again. — (See Auk, Vol. IX, p. 227, Vol. X, p. 76, and Vol. 
XI, p. 73.) Captain Edward Fogarty of the Brenton Reef Lightship, 
having kindly written me as usual regarding the movements of a certain 
American Herring Gull, called ‘Dick,’ I again take pleasure in communi¬ 
cating the same to the readers of ‘The Auk.’ On April 5, 1894, after 
partaking of a hearty breakfast, the bird flew around the lightship, and 
then took his departure, and was not again seen until about eleven o’clock 
on the morning of October 2, 1894, when he was observed flying around 
the lightship, thus making his t-wcnty-tkird season here. It was noticed 
that his plumage presented a rather more ragged appearance than usual, 
his tail feathers being entirely wanting. The bird received his expected 
breakfast, and ate it with apparent relish. A companion Herring Gull 
was with him, but ‘Dick’ would not extend to him the invitation to 
partake also, and apparently did not desire his companionship. Some 
account of this bird having recently appeared in a Boston newspaper 
which contained statements which were unconsciously incorrect, I would 
say that ‘Dick’ has never permitted any one to fondle him, nor has he 
ever alighted on the lightship. — Geo. H. Mackay, Nantucket , Mass . 
Auk XII. Jan. 1895 p. 76 
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