WATER BIRDS. 51 



is at variance with the experience of recent collectors. The record by 

 Covert of a specimen taken at Ann Arbor April 9, 1875 (Forest & Stream, 

 Vol. VII, p. 164) seems doubtful, the specimen not having been located. 

 According to Mcllwraith, this species is very common at the approach of 

 winter, around the west end of Lake Ontario (Birds of Ontario, 1894, p. 

 43), and J. H. Fleming records the capture of several about Toronto, Ont., 

 in November, 1899 (Auk, Vol. 17, 1900, p. 177). It is not included in 

 Kumlien & Hollister's List of the Birds of Wisconsin, since not one un- 

 questionable record for that state can be found. 



In its habits it does not differ much from Bonaparte's Gull, except that 

 as already noted, it seems partial to salt water, and it appears invariably 

 to select rocky islands or cliffs for nesting purposes. It breeds abundantly 

 on some of the rocky islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and northward, 

 building a somewhat bulky nest of sea weeds, grasses and similar material 

 and laying 3 to 5 eggs which are greenish, grayish or brownish white, 

 spotted with brown and gray and average 2.26 by 1.61 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 

 A medium-sized, nearly white gull, with three toes on each foot (all other gulls have four), 

 and with the tail slightly emarginate or cut out. The adult in summer is pure wlaite except 

 that the mantle is bluish-gray and the ends of the four outer wing feathers are jet black, 

 the outer feather having most black and the inner least. The fifth feather is white at tip, 

 then black for a space, then white again; the remaining primaries white. Legs and feet 

 brownish black, bill pale yellow or greenish yellow. In winter the old birds are similar 

 but have the back of the head and neck gray instead of white. Young birds are like winter 

 adults but with an additional black patch across the back of the neck, and the tip of tail 

 usually with a black band. Length 16 to 16.70 inches; wing about 12.25; culmen 1.40 to 

 1.50. 



11. Glaucous Gull. Larus hyperboreus Gunn. (42) 



Synonyms: Burgomaster, Ice Gull. — Larus hyperboreus, Gunnerus, 1767. — Larus 

 glaucus, Brunn., 1764, and most authors. 



Not to be discriminated with certainty from the Herring Gull under 

 ordinary circumstances; but larger and without any black on the primaries. 



Distribution. — Arctic regions; south in winter in North America to the 

 Great Lakes and Long Island. 



This, one of the two largest gulls occurring on the Great Lakes, is by no 

 means common and is rarely taken. In fact, although it undoubtedly 

 occurs regularly during the colder half of the year, we have been unable to 

 find a Michigan specimen in any collection, or even an unimpeachable 

 record. Covert in his manuscript list states that there have been several 

 authentic captures, but does not give any data. Kumlien & Hollister 

 (Birds of Wisconsin, p. 9) state that there are in the Milwaukee Public 

 Museum three specimens procured there January 8, 12, and 14, 1895. 

 In Butler's "Birds of Indiana," 1897, p. 570 it is stated that "Mr. J. W. 

 Byrkit informs me of its occurrence near Michigan City [close to the Mich- 

 igan line.] Mr. F. M. Woodruff has a beautiful specimen in whitepl umage 

 that he killed at Millers, Ind., Oct. 8, 1897." If the last statement is 

 correct it proves that the species does not wait for cold weather before 

 coming south, and presumably may be looked for on the Great Lakes at 

 any time except during the actual nesting season. It nests in Iceland, 

 Greenland, and Arctic America, generally laying two heavily spotted eggs 

 which average 3.13 by 2.14 inches. 



In its habits it resembles the Herring Gull closely, but is said to be more 

 domineering and rapacious, often eating the young of other sea-birds and 

 sometimes even attacking sitting birds and killing and devouring them. 



