Pacific Gull

Larus pacificus Latham 1802 (Garnett 1993)
Pacific Gull
Family: Laridae
Collection history: William John Macleay at Elizabeth Bay

This Large native gull is one of hundreds of animal species collected by the Macleays on or near the grounds of Elizabeth Bay House. Larus pacificus was once common on Sydney Harbour but was driven out by the common kelp gull (L. dominicanus) in the twentieth century. The Macleay collections are of immense importance for documenting and understanding the original biodiversity of what is now one of Sydney's most densely populated areas.

Museum: The Macleays, their collection and the search for order
Robyn Stacey and Ashley Hay
Cambridge University Press
2007

(An evening edit: A library of books. I think you'll really like this.)