The Western Gulls 
Kawk —a note of inquiry or mere communication; has many 
modifications and varies from a short trumpet note to the succeeding. 
Klook —a sepulchral note of unfailing interest but uncertain meaning. 
The trumpet notes — long or short, single or in prolonged succession, 
high-pitched, musical, and far-sounding. During delivery the head is 
thrust forward, the neck arched, and the throat and mandibles opened to 
their fullest capacity. These are pleasure notes and are used especially 
on social occasions when many birds are about — kleer, kleer, kleer, kleer. 
A{n)k, a(n)k, a{n)k, a{n)k, a{n)k, a(n)k) — minor trumpet notes of 
regular length and succession, used in expostulation or social excitement, 
frequent and varied. 
Klook , klook, klook —in quality a combination of kawk and the trum¬ 
pet tones, uttered deliberately and without much show of energy. Used 
chiefly in domestic conversation of uncertain import. 
Oree-eh , oree-eh, oree-eh, an an an —an expression of greeting, as when 
uttered by a sitting bird welcoming one about to alight. The notes of 
the first series are trumpet tones in which the second syllable of each 
member is raised to a higher pitch, while the voice is dropped again on 
the third. The second series is lower and more trivial but still enthusi¬ 
astic, as though congratulatory to the guest arrived. 
Ko —shouted once, or thrice repeated, in quelling a clamor. ‘‘Hist! 
Hist! You're making too much noise; he’s watching us.” 
Arahh —a slow and mournful trumpeting, usually uttered a-wing to 
express anxiety or grief, as at the loss of a chick. 
Oo anh, oo ank —repeated indefinitely. Notes of coaxing and en¬ 
dearment usually addressed to children, but occasionally to wedded mates. 
The cooing of doves does not express so much adulation, or idolatrous 
devotion, as the gull throws into these most domestic tones. 
No. 274 
Western Gull 
A. 0 . U. No. 49. Larus occidentals occidentalis Audubon. 
Synonym.-— Western Herring Gull. 
Description. —Adult in breeding plumage: Mantle slaty gray or plumbeous- 
slate, sharply contrasting with terminal white of secondaries and tertials; the first 
three primaries chiefly black on exposed portion, the succeeding three black subter- 
minally in decreasing area; the first six primaries broadly tipped with white; the outer 
primary (and occasionally in lesser degree the second primary) white for about an inch 
and a half subterminally, crossed distally by irregular black area; remaining plumage 
