626 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



Family 



Gulls and Terns. 



RISSA, Leach. 



R. tridactyla, L. Kittiwake Gull. 



Legs and feet dark ; hind toe rudimentary ; plumage in sum- 

 mer white, with black on quills and tip of tail ; in winter with 

 hind-head and neck suffused with gray ; mantle pearl gray ; 

 more dark patches in young. Length, 17 inches; wings, 12 

 inches. 



" This gull is common off the coast from November to April, 

 but is never seen inland or along the Delaware. Seldom ob- 

 served in summer. Does not breed in the State." 



LARUS, L. 



L. marinus, L. Great Black-backed Gull. Coffin-carrier. Saddle- 

 back. 



Hind toe perfect ; mantle dark slate ; primaries black ; rest of 

 plumage white, streaked with dusky on head in winter ; young 

 dusky above and head streaked. Length, 28 to 31 inches ; 

 wings, 18 inches; tarsus, 3 inches. 



" The young of this species are those generally met with off 

 the coast and in the rivers of this State. Does not ascend the 

 Delaware above Philadelphia, and is there met with very rarely. 

 None breed in the State." 



L. glaucue, Briinn. Glaucous Gull. Ice Gull. Burgomaster. 



No black on wings ; bill yellow, with red spot on lower man- 

 dible. Length, 30 inches. Its southern limit is Long Island. 



L. leucopterus, Faber. Iceland Gull. White-winged Gull. 



Similar, but length 23 inches. Limits nearly the same as 

 preceding. 



L. arg-entatus, var. smithsonianus, Coues. American Herring Gull. 

 Common Gull. 



Feet flesh colored ; mantle grayish blue or lighter ; no black 

 spots on bill ; red spot on lower mandible ; young grayish ; bill 

 dark. Length, 22 to 27 inches; wings, 17 inches. 



