LARUS PACIFICUS, Lath.
Pacific Gull.
Larus Pacificus, Lath. Ind. Om. Supp.,.p. lxviii.—Vieill. 2nde « d it du N out. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x n . p. 608.
—Ib . Ency. Méth.. tom. i. p. 345.—Less. T ra ité d’Om., p. 617.—List o f Birds in B n t. Mus. Coll.,
p a r t iii. p . 170.
Pacific Gull, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. iï. p. 332.- Ib . Gen. Hist., vol. x ..p 4 69 I
Larus leuoomelas, Vieül. Soda édit; du N out. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., tom. n i p . 5 0 9 .-Ib . Eucy. Méth.,, tom. i. p . 346.
pl. 234. %. 4.—Less. Traité d’Om., p, 617.
frontaUs, Vieill, 2nde édit. du N out. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x xi. p . « ^ - » . Eucy, Méth., tom, i. p . 345.
Georgii, King, Survey o f th e Intertropical Coast o f Australia, vol. ii. p . 423.
Nga-ga-la, Aborigines o f th e lowland districts of W e ste rn Australia.
Larger Gull o f th e Colonists.
T h e Larus pacificus, which differs from erery other species I am acquainted with in the deepened form of
the bin and in the pearly whiteness of the irides, is abundantly dispersed over all the shpres of Van Diemen s
Land the islands in Bass’s Straits, and the southern parts of the Australian continent. It ascends high up
the larger riyers and arms of the sea, hut Is never, so far as I am aware, seen in the interior o f the country.
It is very powerful on the wing, often mounts high in the air, and soars in circles after the manner of. the
Eagle ■ in this particular habit, and in its less laborious flight, it differs considerably from its prototype, the
Larus H | of Europe, while in most other parts of the economy it as closely assimilates to it. It traverses
the line of coast in search of food, which consists of any stranded carriomor floating animal substance, to
which living fish, crabs, mollusks, and even small quadrupeds are added whenever opportunities occur.
When fully adult, the sexes can only be distinguished by the smaller ^ of the female; the young, on
the contrary, for at least two years, differ so considerably as to favour the idea o f .their belonging to a different
species ; the mottled brown o f this state, however, may frequently b e seen gradually changing to the
colouring of the adult, as may also the hue of the bill and eye, which gradually change with the plumage;
the representation of these states in the accompanying Plate will render them more easily understood than
the most .lengthy description. This .fine Gull breeds on most of the low islands round Van Diemen s Land;
the eggs, which are generally three in number, being usually placed on the bare ledges of rock, although
not unfrequently on the shore of the projecting points of small islands. The eggs are of a clear olive,
marked all over with blotches of blackislr and umber brown, some o f the markings appearing as if beneath
the surface of the shell; they are two inches and five-eighths long by one inch and seven-eighths in breadth.
Head, neck, upper part of the back, all the under surface, upper and under tail-coverts white; back and
wings dark slaty black, the secondaries largely tipped with white; primaries black, the innermost slightly
tipped with white; tail white, the inner web of the outer feather a n d g th webs of the remainder crossed
near the tip with a broad band of b lfe i; irides pearl-white; legs y e l lo w ; claws black; eyelash yellow;
bill orange stained with blood-red at the tip, in the midst of which in some specimens are a few blotches
The tuning have the general plumage brown, with lighter margins to the feathers, giving them a mottled
appearance; under tail-coverts nearly white; primaries and tail blackish brown; irides brown; bill
yellowish brown, deepening into black at the tip.
The accompanying Plate represents an adult and a young bird, about two-tlnrds of the natural size.