The White -Winged Fleet 



from the north. By the middle of August, among 

 flocks of Terns we can often pick out a bird or 

 two of heavier build, square tail, and slower flight, 

 that proves to be Bonaparte's Gull in winter dress, 

 without the striking black hood. By September, 

 or even earlier, our familiar Herring Gull begins 

 to return south from the breeding-grounds. If we 

 look carefully we may notice a very similar Gull 

 that is a little smaller, known as the Ring-bill, 

 which, in the coast-region, goes in summer far to 

 the north. In late fall the beautiful Kittiwake 

 becomes abundant well off shore on the fishing- 

 grounds, and the big fellows appear, — the Great 

 Black-backed, which becomes fairly common, and 

 the rare Glaucus Gull, or Burgomaster. 



I well remember when I first saw the "Burgo- 

 master" alive. I was watching a flock of Herring 

 Gulls feeding just ofif one of the Boston docks in 

 midwinter, when I became aware of the presence 

 of a larger individual, a magnificent Gull, white 

 all over, without even the black wing-tips of the 

 others. With them it was hovering, wheeling, and 

 alighting to pick up morsels from the water, no 

 more fearful than they. There was no doubt as 

 to what it was, and I watched it for an hour before 

 it went down the bay. Its spread of six feet across 

 the wings gave it an impressive appearance. 



This is the size also of the Great Black-backed 

 Gull, that is also known as Turkey Gull, Minister 

 Gull, and by other names. The black plumage of 

 its upper parts in contrast with the pure white below 

 makes it, in the adult phase, very conspicuous. 

 But it is one of the shyest of birds. The Herring 



