304 



WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



narrow yellowish band. Tail feathers pale grey at their base, mar- 

 bled with black ; all the rest of the feathers very dusky edged with 

 white. Quills deep black, without any white spot towards the ends. 

 Bill black, brown at its base. Feet of a dirty ochre yellow. 



Summer phtmage of the adults, with the summit of the head, re- 

 gion of the eyes, occiput and neck white, without any brown spot; 

 the rest of the plumage as in winter. 



HERRING GULL. 



(Larus argentatus, Brunn. Orn. Boreal, p. 44. No. 149. Gmel. 

 Syst. ii. p. COO. sp. 18. Herring Gull, Lath. Syn. vi. p. 372. No, 

 3. Penn. Arct. Zool. No. 452. Goeland a manteau gris ou cendr6, 

 Buff. Ois. viii. p. 406. t. 32. PI. Enlum. 253, Larus argcntetis, 

 and L. argentatus, Brehm. Silvery Gull, Pens. Arct. Zool. ii. p. 

 533. C. Lath. Syn. vi. p. 375. [winter plumage.]) 



Sp. Charact. — Mantle bluish-grey; wings extending beyond the 

 tail ; quills black at the point, tipped with white ; shafts black ; 

 first primary with a wliite spot and tip of the same color : tarsus 

 nearly 3 inches. — Summer plumage, with the head and neck 

 pure white. Winter dress, with the head and neck varied with 

 brown lines. Young, blackish-ash, mottled with yellowish rtisty. 



The Herrinor Gull is common to the milder as well as 

 cold countries of both continents. It remains throughout 

 the year on the sea coasts of Holland and France ; and is 

 very abundant, according to Temminck, in the isles of the 

 north of Holland. It is seen sometimes on the borders 

 of lakes and rivers, though these visiters ai-e chiefly the 

 young. 



Mr. Audubon found these birds breeding abundantly 

 on Grand Manan Island, in the Bay of Funday, on low fir 

 trees as well as on the ground, the nest being large and 

 loose, composed of sea-weeds, roots, sticks and feathers. 

 They are very resentful and clamorous when approached. 



