428 THE RING-BILLED GULL. 



it, it is found to be only 18-20 inches long and some 48 

 inches in extent; thus being much smaller than the Herring 

 Gull, while the colors of its bill and feet fully differentiate 

 it. From the dark ring around its bill, it is called the 

 Ring-billed Gull {Larus delawarensis). It has nearly the 

 same diet and habitat as its near relative, which it so closely 

 resembles. 



About 44 miles northeast of CoUingwood, and somewhat 

 north of the route from that city to Parry Sound, are the 

 Western Islands. They are in two thick groups, the largest 

 islands containing several acres each, the smallest being 

 mere rocky shoals. One of the largest has a few trees, 

 most of the rest contain a few shrubs, and more or less 

 small vegetable growth and grasses on some of the ledges 

 of rock. They are many miles from any human habitation, 

 resting quietly in the grand solitude of this waste of 

 waters. On one of the larger islands of these groups, the 

 Ring-bills breed in immense numbers. As one nears the 

 shores they literally swarm with many hundreds, if not 

 thousands, of these elegant birds. The rocks and the 

 waters along the shore are literally white with them. Ap- 

 proaching still nearer, they take alarm, and rise like an 

 immense living cloud. The very air, rustling with the noise 

 of their snowy wings, seems alive with them; and still they 

 rise from the more distant parts of the island, until their 

 numbers are overwhelming. Rising high overhead, the 

 great mass spread out somewhat, and describing their 

 graceful circles, intersecting each other at points innumer- 

 able, form most complicated and animated figures of huge 

 dimensions against the sunlit ether or the thick veil of 

 dark clouds. Now they become very noisy, their voices 

 being quite similar to that of the Herring Gull. Presently 

 the great excited mass separates into sections; several 



