ZOOLOGY. 
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pursuing the steamers along the coast within sight of land, easily keeping up with the speed 
of ten miles an hour, though having nothing like the power of wing of the albatross that 
generally accompanies them at these times. 
In March these gulls are commonly seen in pairs, the female only distinguishable by its 
somewhat less size. They are said to lay on the islands off Cape Classet, and perhaps do also 
on some within the Straits of Pe Fuca. They are still found during summer a long distance 
from these places, but whether these are barren birds, or resort for food to such a distance, I 
do not know. 
In October, 1853, I saw a few large gulls 400 miles up the Columbia river, east of the 
Cascade mountains, but could not ascertain whether they were of this species. I believe, 
however, that they fly up that river at least 100 miles from its mouth. 
I could distinguish no difference in habits between the dark and light blue specimens, which 
have the same peculiar bill and dimensions.—C. 
LARUS CALIFORNTCUS, Lawrence. 
The California Gull. 
Lams californicus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. H. N. Y. VI, 1854, 79 — Baird & Lawrence, Gen. Rep. Birds, 846. 
Laroides californicus, Bon. Cons. Av. II, 1856,220. 
Sp. Ch.— Adult: The head, neck, under plumage, rump, and tail, pure white; back and wings pearl blue, darker than in 
L. argentatus, but not so dark as in L occidentals; the six outer primaries are marked with black towards their ends, extending 
on the first for about two-thirds its length, and becoming less on the others, until on the sixth it consists only of a subterminal 
bar; the tips of all are white; on the exterior quill the white extends about two inches, and is crossed near the end by a black 
bar ; the secondaries and tertiaries terminate with white; iris hazel; bill yellow; basal part of the upper mandible greenish gray 
for two thirds its length ; a blackish band crosses both mandibles near their ends ; it is darker in color on the lower mandible, 
where it is bordered with orange; tarsus and feet flesh color. 
Length, 20 to 22.50 inches; extent, 49 to 55; wing, 15 25 to 16 ; tail, 7; bill, 2; depth at angle, 10.16; tarsus, 2|; middle toe 
and nail, 2J ; female smallest. 
Eab .—Pacific coast. 
The California gull is also an abundant species along the western coast,- excepting in 
summer, when they appear to retire beyond the limits of the Territory. In winter they 
remain in small numbers on the coast, and probably for some distance up the Columbia as long 
as it remains unfrozen. In habits they much resemble the western gulls, but seem more 
inclined to dive for fish, though they also feed in the edge of the water during rising tide. I 
have never seen them break shell-fish as the other does. I did not see any of them following 
the vessels out at sea, and they appear to be confined to bays and rivers. 
The following are the colors of parts which change in drying: Iris dark brown, bronzed; 
bill greenish yellow, with a black band around angle, and sometimes an orange red patch 
beneath; inside of mouth orange red; edge of lids dark dull red; feet greenish white, in the 
young grayish.—C. 
LARUS DELAWARENSIS, Ord. 
Tlie Ring-billed Gnll. 
Larus delawarensis, Ord, Guth Geog. 2d Am. ed II, 1815,319.— Baird & Lawrence, Gen. Eep. Birds, 846. 
Lams brachyrhynchus, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831,422, (not of Gould.) 
Larus zonorhynchus, Rich. & Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831,422.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834,300.— Aud. Birds Am. VII, 1844,152; 
pi. ccccxlvi.—B on. Cons. Av. II, 1856,224. 
Sp. Ch. — Adult: The head, neck, under parts, and tail are pure white; back and wiugs very light pearl blue ; first and second 
primaries black for two-thirds of their length towards the end, the three next quills have the black much less in extent, and on 
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