BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 39 



old. It is possible tliat when tlie nest is seventy-five 

 feet up in a tree the nestlings, like those of the wood 

 ducks, are carried down by one of the adults. 



53. CALIFORNIA GULL. — Lams califomicus. 

 Family : The Gulls and Terns. 



Length: 21.50. 



Adults: Head, neck, and under parts white ; mantle dark slate-gray; 

 the j'ellow bill marked with red spot, touching or encircling a black 

 spot near end of lower mandible ; iris bright brown ; feet light 

 green. 



Young: Head, neck, and lower parts white, washed with brownish 

 gray ; upper parts mottled gray and buffy ; quills and tail-feathers 

 rusty black. 



Domiy Young : Light ash-gray, marked with black spots on head and 

 washed with dark gray on back, wings, and tail. 



Geographical Distribution : Western North America, chiefly in the inte- 

 rior from Alaska to Mexico. 



Breeding Range : Inland lakes of Oregon, AYashington, British Colum- 

 bia, and Utah. 



Breeding Season: Approximately, ]\Iay 15 to August 15. 



Nest : Of sticks and grasses, lined with feathers ; on ground, on rocks, 

 or in low sagebrush near water. 



Eggs: 3 to 5 ; from blue-white to gray-brown. Size 2.50 X 1.65. 



The California Gull is a regular winter visitant on the 

 coast, but disappears usually about May 1. It breeds 

 abundantly on Lake Malheur, Oregon, on Great Salt 

 Lake, Utah, and as far north as Great Slave Lake. 

 It may easily be distinguished from the other species by 

 its smaller size. Mr. Loomis reports it as abundant at 

 Monterey, where it is found in company with the west- 

 ern and glaucous-winged. During the winter it is com- 

 mon on all the fresh-water marshes as well as the coast, 

 throughout Southern California. Mrs. J3ailcy says, "At 



