BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 17 



which do not leave us until late in October. While here they 

 spend much of the time in considerable flocks on the middle of 

 the ordinary sized lakes, except during- the prevalence of high 

 winds, when they are seen almost constantly on the wing. Dr. 

 Hvoslef reports it as having about the same local history in 

 Fillmore county, and Mr. P. H. Clague, of Herman, Grant 

 county, has long noticed them on the lakes in the vicinity of 

 that place. 



The nest is said to consist of dried grass, lichens, moss, 

 small sticks, &c. . in profusion, deeply depressed in the center, 

 and contains three olivaceous drab eggs, varying to much 

 lighter shades, blotched and spattered with dark to light brown 

 and faint purple. They vary much in size and measurements, 

 averaging about 2. 50 by 2 inches. Many of them are quite in- 

 distinguishable from those of the other species of the same 

 genus. 



The Herring Gull is a magnificent bird under any circum- 

 stances, but especially when leisurely floating upon the wing, 

 turning his head from side to side in his unremitting vigilance 

 to secure his food. As with the entire family, the telescopic 

 vision never fails to spy instantly the merest fragment within 

 possible range, for which it plunges with unerring aim. 



In both migrations, embracing a considerable period in the 

 autumn, they are abundant in numbers and flocks, remaining 

 many times until completely frozen out of the lakes and streams 

 that supply them their special food. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Head, neck, under parts, rump, and tail pure white; back 

 and wings light pearl-blue; first six primaries marked towards 

 their ends with black, which begins on the first about 

 half its length from the end, and is rapidly lessened on the 

 others until it becomes only a subterminal bar on the sixth; 

 primaries all tipped with white; on the first quill it is about an 

 inch and a half in extent, crossed near the end by a black bar, 

 on the second quill there is a round white spot on the inner 

 web near the end; secondaries and tertiaries broadly ending 

 with white; bill bright yellow, with an orange spot near the 

 end of the lower mandible; legs and feet flesh color; iris 

 white. (Young, mottled with light grayish-brown and dull 

 white; primaries and bill brownish-black, latter yellowish at 

 base. ) 



Length, 23; wing, 18; bill, 24-; tarsus, 2^. 



