THE HERRING GULL. 29 



of the breeding season and is worn only for a few weeks. 

 The Bonaparte's gull is the common small species of the 

 Atlantic coast, so often seen floating in large flocks on the 

 water. 



It is not difficult to distinguish gulls from terns, which 

 somewhat resemble them in color. All our United States 

 gulls are square-tailed and blunt-billed, and float on the water 

 but never dive, while all our terns are fork-tailed, sharp-billed, 

 md dive from the air but do not float upon the surface. The 

 terns commonly have very brilliant red or yellow feet and 

 bills, and in the adult plumage a black cap, but never a black 

 head. Young terns lack the cap but do not show any brown 

 piarkings like the young gulls. 



