53 



surface. Occasionally they follow the immense schools of small fish that 

 periodically visit our shores and take toll of the inexhaustible supply. 



Economic Status. It will be seen from the above summary of the 

 Herring Gulls food habits' that as scavengers they are important and 

 should be protected. 



54. Ring-billed Gull. fr. — le goeland de Delaware, mauve. Larus dela- 

 warensis. L, 1S"50. Like the Herring Gull (see p. 52) but smaller; the adult with the 

 biU crossed near the tip with a transverse bar or ring. 



Distinctions. Except when adult and ring on biU obvious, size is best guide to 

 separation of this species from the Herring Gull. On the sea coast this species may be 

 mistaken for the common but smaller Kittiwake. The presence of terminal white spots 

 on the black wing tips serves to distinguish the Ring-bill. In juvenihty, the brown colora- 

 tion of the Ring-bill is in contrast to the lighter coloration of the yoimg Kittiwake. It 

 lacks the distinct termLaal tail band of those birds and has flesh-coloured instead of black 

 feet and legs. The absence of the sharp, narrow, black tail band and dark cheek patch, 

 and great difference in size should be sufficient to differentiate it from Bonaparte's Gull 

 in juvenile or winter plumage. 



Field Marks. A careful study of the characters above will reveal the only good field 

 marks known to the author. 



N^estiiig. On ground in nest of grasses or vegetable material. 



Distribution. Foimd over almost the whole of Canada. Breeds locally throughout 

 its range in Canada except in the most southern parts of the Dominion in the lower Great 

 Lakes region. 



Economic Status. The food habits of the Ring-bill are similar in a 

 general way to those of the Herring Gull, but the smaller size of the Ring-bill 

 reduces its influence. 



60. Bonaparte's Gull. fr. — le goeland de bonaparte. Larus Philadelphia. 

 L, 14. Bonaparte's is our smallest eastern Gull. Its general coloration is similar to that 

 of the Herring or Ring-bill but the adult has a black hood over the head and neck. Juven- 

 iles and winter birds are without the hood, but ai-e marked with a veiled or indistinct dark 

 ear spot. 



Distinctions. The black hood serves to distinguish this Gull from all eastern species 

 when in summer plumage. In western Ontario, Franklin's Gull may occasionally be seen. 

 It is a slightly larger bird with a red bill and almost black feet instead of black bill, coral red 

 feet, and the exposed primary tips are mostly black instead of mostly white with small 

 black tips. Juveniles may be recognized by their dark ear spot. They are distinguished 

 from the Kittiwake which they somewhat resemble by the con.spicuous amount of white 

 on the forward edge of the outstretched wing and by the dark terminal tail band. Bona- 

 parte's Gull may at times be confused with the Common Tern or other Terns, but its 

 heavier build and action, and lack of any suggestion of a forked tail should make differentia- 

 tion comparatively easy. 



The Laughing Gull which occasionally occurs on our southern sea coast looks very 

 much like this species, but the outer wing feathers are black instead of mostly white and 

 it is a breeder not a winter migrant. It is, however, so rare that its identification should 

 be accepted with the greatest caution. 



Field Marks. Size, black hood in summer adults, white on forward edge of wings, and 

 the bill and feet colour on other plumages make the most valuable field characters for 

 recognition in life. 



Nesting. On stumps, bushes, or trees, sometimes as high as 20 feet from the ground. 



Distribution. Breeds in Alaska and the far northwest, but occurs in winter or migra- 

 tion practically throughout Canada. 



This little Gull is more often seen in passing or visiting flocks than the 

 other species. It also haunts marshes and flooded lands more than they 

 do and is rarely noted as a solitary individual. It shows a markedly com- 

 munistic habit and flocks seem to be held together more by sociability 

 than by a community of interest, as appears usually to be the case with 

 other species of Gulls. 



