an inch long*: all the shafts whitish. Bill and legs vermilion, the former obscurely barred
near the tip.
F orm.—Bill rather stout, curved from the nostrils, with the gonys forming an evident
salient angle : its depth equal to twice its breadth. Wings an inch and a half longer than
the perfectly even tail. Thighs an inch bare.
A female and another male, killed at the same place six weeks later in the season, correspond
minutely with the above.
Dimensions
Of the male.
Length, total . 17 L0in, Length of bill to rictus . In1c h. L11in. Length of inner toe . . In1c h. . L0in,
. '. ,, ooff .wtaiinlg. ; , ; . 141 60 ,' ,,,, ooff tmarisdudsle toe .. 11 83 ,„, . ooff hhiinndd tnoaeil . . . 00 32
,, of bill above . . 1 ,, of its nail . 0 4| —R.
[190.] 10. L a r u s B o n a p a r t ii. , (Nobis.) Bonapartian Gull.
Genus, Larus, Linn.
Akesey-keask. Cb.ee Indians.
Plate lxxii.
Ch. Sp. Larus Bonapartii, rostro gracili nigro intus pedibusque puniceis, palliolo perlaeeo-dnereo, alis antice
lath albo marginals, remigibus sex nigro terminatis apiculis albis; remige primo extus toto nigro, tarso
sub sesquiunciali.—cucullo (estate nigro.
Sp. Ch. Bonapartian gull, with a black bill; the mouth and feet carmine-red; wings bordered with white
anteriorly: posteriorly, together with the back, pearl-grey; six exterior quills black at the end, slightly
tipped with white: the first quill entirely black exteriorly; tarsus scarcely an inch and a half long.—Head
greyish-black in summer.
This handsome small gull is common in all parts of the fur countries, where
it associates with the Terns, and is distinguished by its peculiar shrill and plaintive
cry. The L. capistratus of the Prince of Musignano (Syn., No. 293) differs,
according to his description, in the first quill being white exteriorly, pale-ash
interiorly, in the light-brown colour of its hood, and in its tail being slightly
emarginated, while the tail of L. Bonapartii is even more inclined to be rounded
laterally than notched in the middle.
DESCRIPTION
Of a male, killed at Great Slave Lake, May 26, 1826.
Colour.—rNeck, tail coverts, tail, whole under plumage and interior of the wings pure
white. Hood greyish-black, extending half an inch over the nape, and as much lower on
the throat. Mantle pearl-grey, this colour extending to the tips of the tertiaries, secondaries,
and two posterior primaries. The anterior border of the wing is white from its shoulder
* The extent of black on the second quill is greatest, measuring two inches; it diminishes gradually on the three
succeeding ones, and all these have small white tips.—R.
3 I