408 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Dec. 



during stron;^: gales of north-westerly winds. It is called the 

 '' large ice gull." 



White-winged GuU, L. leucopterus, Fabcr. — Like the preced- 

 ing species a periodical migrant, and most common in the fall of 

 the year. 



Great Blachhached GuU, L, mariuus, Linn. — A common sum- 

 mer migrant, arriving towards the last of April and remaining un- 

 til the drift-ice appears. It builds its nest of grass and rushes, on 

 rocks and small islands, most commonly in fresh-water ponds and 

 lakes, but very frequently in similar situations in bays, kc. 

 Provincial name, " Saddler Gull." 



Herring Gull,^^ L. argentatus, Brunn. — Abundant throughout 

 the summer, and breeds in similar situations, and often in com- 

 pany with the preceding and following species. It is called the 

 '' blue gull" by the settlers. 



Ring-hilled Gull, L. Delawarensis, Ord. — Common throughout 

 the summer. Provincial name"squeezy gull." x\ll the above 

 species of Larus are carnivorous, but more especially L. glaucus 

 and L. marinus. No sooner does a dead or dying bird appear on 

 the surface of the water (the raven generally secures such prizes 

 when washed ashore.) than it Is quickly espied by the gulls, which 

 immediately commence squalling and in circUng flights survey 

 their victim. Should it prove to he a goose or duck, or even one 

 of their own species, the '-old saddler" (L. Diarinus) usually 

 commences operations ; this it does, if the bird is quite dead, by 

 standino" oi the floating body and picking first the neck and then 

 the breast, and in a wonderfully short time the gulls devour every 

 part of a tine fat goose except the bones and feathers : I liave often 

 watched the process in, I fear, a rather dog-in-the-manger spirit — 

 having first killed or crippled the goose for them. 



Bonapjrtes Gull, Chroicocephalus Philadelphia(Ord'.) — I have 

 every reason to believe this little gull occurs occasionally in the 

 Straits of Labrador. During the fall (Aug. and Sept.) of 18G6, 

 and again in 1867, I saw gulls (on wing) which I could refer to 

 no other species, and the settlers, to whom I showed specimens of 

 the following species, said they were larger than the " tickler." — 

 a small gull with which they evidently seemed familiar, and one 



^ Professor Newton informs me "' that the American form of this bird 

 has been of late regarded as distinct under the name of i. Smithsonianws." 



