ZOOLOGY. 
275 
spot; the first primary has a white spot over both webs an inch and a half in extent inside the tip; the second has a similar 
mark of white, but less in extent; the tips of the first and second primaries are black, but of all the others white; the 
secondaries and tertiaries largely marked with white at their ends; bill dusky yellowish green, except on the ridge of the 
upper mandible, forward of the nostrils, and on the angle of the lower mandible, which parts are orange yellow ; tips of both 
mandibles pale yellow; legs and feet greenish yellow. 
Length, 16 to 17.50 inches ; extent, 41.50 to 44.50 ; wing, 12 75 to 14; tail, 5£ ; bill, 1 5-16 ; tarsi, If. 
Young: Mottled with grayish while and daik ash ; wings and tail dark brown, the latter ashy white at the base and tip ; 
bill flesh color for half its length from the base, terminating with black ; legs and feet flesh color; iris brown. 
Ilab —Pacific coast; Puget Sound. 
The gull to which Mr. Lawrence has, in a complimentary manner, applied my name is quite 
abundant during the winter season in the bays and inlets of Puget Sound. In habits it much 
resembles the L. glaucescens and, in certain conditions of plumage, (in its general appearance,) 
it looks very much like a miniature of that species. They are also found much in company with 
each other. I saw a gull, apparently of this species, attempting to break a clam by carrying 
it high in the air and then dropping it, in the same manner as is the practice of fish crows 
and several of the other gulls. 
The greater number retire to the north on the approach of warm weather, but again return 
to the sound about the 1st of November. They are fond of swimming about on the surface of 
the v water, and, when desirous of so doing, can swim very fast. They generally merely rest 
dozingly, or lazily paddle about during their period of quiet; as the tide retreats, however, 
they join vast numbers of other gulls, fish crows, &c., and repair to the flats at the mouths of 
the various rivers which empty into the sound, where they engage themselwes in search for 
small fish, crabs, mollusks, &e., and for any refuse offal which may be thrown up by the waves. 
Their voice is a rather harsh, grating scream of not much power.—S. 
In spring and fall, for a few days of May and October, a small species of gull passed through 
Shoalwater bay in flocks, and early in the morning would seek some quiet, sheltered cove to 
feed, diving for fish rapidly while fluttering over the shoals, and rarely alighting on the water 
except to rest. They kept up a continual chattering while thus engaged, and on the approach 
of a boat would move off together for another place. Their flight was more rapid and easy 
than that of the large kinds. The adult was white, with a pale gray mantle. I only obtained 
one young specimen.—C. 
BLASIPUS HEERMANNI, (Cassin,) Bon. 
The White-headed Gull. 
Larus heermanni, Cass. Proc. Acad. N. Sc. Phil. VI, 1852, 187 .—Ib. Ill. 1,1853, 28 ; pi. v. 
Larus Belcheri, Vigors, Zool. Journ, IV, 1829, 358 .—Ib. Zool. Blossom, 1834, 39. 
Blasipus heermanni , Bon. Cons. Av. II, 1856, 211.— Baird & Lawrence, Gen. Rep. Birds, 848. 
? Larus fulginosus, Gould, Zool. Beagle, Birds, p. 141. 
Sp. Ch.— Adult: Bill red, both mandibles tipped with black ; feet and legs dark ; head white, which color gradually blends 
into an ashy lead color, enveloping the entire body above and below, darker on the back and wings and paler on the abdomen. 
Secondary quills tipped with white, forming an oblique bar when the wings are folded. Superior coverts of the tail very 
pale cinereous, nearly white. Quills and tail feathers brownish black, all of the latter narrowly tipped with white. Shafts of 
the two first primaries white on the inferior surface of the wing. 
Length, 18.50 to 21 inches ; wing, 13.25 to 14 ; tail, ; bill from angle to tip of upper mandible, 2£ inches. 
Young: Smaller ; entire plumage lead color ; darker on the head and paler on the under surface of the body ; quills and 
tail feathers brownish black, the latter narrowly tipped with white ; rump white. Iris brownish gray. 
Hab .—Coast of California. 
