54 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



The first eggs are laid early in June, but often the nests are robbed 

 continuously so that fresh eggs are often found until late in July. 

 Probably not all the individuals nest during the first year and this 

 may account for the numbers of dark colored birds which linger about the 

 shores and harbors far south of any known nesting places. The 

 regular southward migration begins by the middle of August, and 

 although the greater number spend the winter farther south, many remain all 

 winter in the open water of the southern parts of the lakes. Indeed probably 

 a few linger all winter wherever there is open water, at least as far north 

 as the Straits of Mackinac and the rapids of the Sault Ste. Marie. During 

 migration the birds frequently visit inland lakes and streams and probably 

 there is not a county in the state where they do not appear occasionally 

 wheeling slowly over ponds and streams in search of fish or other food. 



Formerly the eggs were collected in large numbers by the Indians and 

 fishermen, and were commonly sold for food in the markets of Escanaba 

 and some other large lake ports. Mr. Ed. Van Winkle, Van's Harbor, Mich., 

 states that it still (1905) "Breeds abundantly on middle and south Gull 

 Islands as well as on Gravel Gull Island at the entrance to Green Bay in 

 Delta county, Mich. It is no uncommon thing for the egg poachers on 

 some of their trips to carry away 2,000 to 3,000 of their eggs." It is hoped 

 that this is altogether a thing of the past. The present law protects all 

 gulls, as non-game birds, and a heavy penalty may be imposed for kilhng 

 them or disturbing their nests or 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult in summer with the head wholly white and the tail even. Mantle delicate pearl- 

 gray; primaries black and white, usually white-tipped with a black sub-terminal space. 

 Lower mandible often with a red or yellow spot but never with a black one. Winter 

 plumage similar, but the head and neck streaked with brownish or gray. Immature very 

 variously marked, sometimes almost uniform chocolate brown all over, sometimes mottled 

 with brown, white and pearl-gray in variable amounts. A black tail-bar frequently 

 occurs, but other specimens lack it altogether. Length, 22.50 to 26.00 inches; wing, 16.25 

 to 17.50, culmen 1.95 to 2.50. 



15. Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis Ord. (54) 



Synonyms: Common Gull, Lake Gull (confused with the Herring Gull). — Larus delawar- 

 ensis, Ord, 1815, and many others. — Larus zonorhynchus, Rich., 1831, Nutt., 1834, Aud., 

 1835, and a few others. 



In full plumage this bird may be distinguished from any other gull of 

 our waters by its yellowish bill with a distinct band of black encircling it. 

 In any other plumage, however, it is so similar to several others species, 

 particularly to the Herring Gull, that it is not likely to be recognized except 

 by the expert. It is decidedly smaller than the Herring Gull, but unless 

 the two are seen in company this fact is not apparent. 



Distribution. — North America at large; south in winter to Cuba and 

 Mexico. 



Next to the Herring Gull this species undoubtedly is the most common 

 of the larger gulls, but it is abundant only during the migrations, or in the 

 southern part of the state during winter. Probably it formerly nested 

 on some of the islands in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, but we have no 

 reason to suppose that it does so at present. Major Boies states that it 

 breeds abundantly on islands to the east of Neebish Island in the St. Mary's 

 River (Bull. Mich. Orn. Club, I, 18), and Mr. Butler informs us that he was 



