The California Gull 
challenged thus by the wind, the gulls follow by preference either in dead 
air just off the cliffs, or else immediately above the cliff-line, as needs may 
require. None are more expert than Captain Argentatus in judging wind 
values, or in covering a flaw made by an indentation of the cliff-line. The 
predilection which the moving birds show for the cliff-line is the photog¬ 
rapher’s opportunity. He has but to conceal himself in some cliff-hung 
barranca and take pictorial toll to his heart’s content. And certainly 
there is nothing in all nature more enchanting, more enviable, or more 
artistically compelling than a company of sea-gulls faring splendidly 
northward in the face of a merry piping gale. 
No. 276 
California Gull 
A. O. U. No. 53. Larus californicus Lawrence. 
Description.— Adult: Mantle deep pearl-gray (decidedly darker than in argen¬ 
tatus; tip of wing (six outer primaries) chiefly black; the black of 1st primary interrupted 
near tip by blotch of white about two inches in length (in some specimens subterminal 
black deleted, i. e., tip entirely white), shaft of feather white in this portion, area of 
white decreasing on inner web; 2nd primary less extensively blotched with white, 
forming in the exposed wing with the preceding a wedge-shaped area of white, largest 
anteriorly, shaft of this quill black throughout; tips of all white; black disappearing 
in small subterminal bar of 6th; invasion by basal white not too rapid as in argentatus, 
coming within two inches of tip of 5th primary; remaining plumage pure white. In 
winter streaked and clouded with brownish dusky on crown, cervix, and neck all around. 
Bill yellow, crossed subterminally by a broken band of black (thus effecting the tran¬ 
sition to L. delawarensis, from which it is distinguished by a heavy vermilion patch on 
gonys; irides brown; feet and tarsi greenish gray or yellowish gray. Young, first and 
second years: In general, mottled brownish gray and white, much as in preceding 
species, but back and wings more highly variegated in grays of three shades; chin and 
throat dull whitish, very lightly or scarcely streaked; wing-quills and tail brownish 
black (averaging much darker in tone than that of L. argentatus). Bill yellow at base, 
abruptly black-tipped. Transition plumages: as before; a subterminal bar of black on 
bill being the last juvenile character to disappear. Measurements: Length of adult 
48206-584.2 (19.00-23.00). Av. of 10 Monterey specimens: length 508 (20.00); wing 
404 (15.91); tail 148.3 (5.84); bill 46.3 (1.82); depth at angle 15 (.59); depth at nostril 
14-3 (-56); tarsus 57.4 (2.26). 
Recognition Marks.—Small gull siz e; feet greenish gray (distinguishing from all 
but delawarensis, which is lighter gray as to mantle, and more extensively black as to 
beak; and from brachyrhynchus, which is smaller with relatively smaller beak); large 
wedge-shaped spot of white near tip of wing; otherwise much like argentatus , which at 
its maximum it closely approaches in size. 
Nesting.—Of weeds, grasses, and a few feathers, on the ground. Eggs: 3 
(4 of record); as in Western Gull, but more variable. Aw of 40 specimens in M. C. O. 
