>Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 10:07:24 -0800 (PST)
>X-Sender: dfxjcp at humboldt1.com
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>To: dpaulson at ups.edu
>From: dfxjcp at humboldt1.com (David Fix & Jude Claire Power)
>Subject: gulls
>
>Dennis,
>
>I took a look at the 'mystery gulls' at ups.edu/biology . . . and I was
>surprised to find that the bird you call a 3B Western has been called
>anything else by anyone. By the time only a portion of the bill image had
>been scanned in, it was already a Western Gull, and at a glance. This bird
>is an entirely typical Western Gull and seems (from this image on my
>monitor!) almost phenotypically perfect. The bill shape is characteristic
>of Western, as is the shape of the head, facial expression, degree and
>character of 3B winter clouding, and the bird's overall appearance. With
>all respects due to Steve Mlodinow, why was this gull ever considered a
>candidate Slaty-backed?
>
>The remnant dusky brownish in the coverts --obvious but not conspicuous--
>together with the black said to still be in the tail would point to
>third-basic. And I have seen 3B Western Gulls with bills this dark.
>
>Thanks for causing your informed discussion to be accessible to others.
>
>David
>
>David Fix
>Jude Claire Power
>Arcata, CA
>40*51'N, 124*04'W
>
>"If you're not outraged,
>you're not paying attention"

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 253-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 253-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html