HERRING-GULL 



145 



spots and blotches, usually ev'enly distributed, and underlying markings 

 of grey or pale purple. Rarely an egg with a blue ground occurs. 



The herring-gull, which may be roughly described 

 as a larger edition of the common gull (having a 

 total length in the male of over 22, and a wing- 

 length exceeding 16 inches), is much less intolerant 

 of summer heat than the latter, and may accordingly be found breeding 

 on the southern coasts of England, where (with the kittiwake) it takes 



Hepping-Gull 



(Larus 

 argentatus). 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAND WARD STUDlOb 



HERRIXG-GULLS (ADULT .-WD IMMATURE). 



the place of its smaller cousin in summer. Its range includes both sides 

 of the Atlantic, extending in the Old World as far east as the White 

 Sea, and as far south in winter as the Black, Caspian, and Mediterranean 

 Seas ; while in the western hemisphere the species may be found in 

 summer as far north as Labrador and Greenland, and in winter as 

 far south as the West Indies and Central America, where it probabl)' 

 crosses the continent to meet a closely allied Pacific bird. In both 

 hemispheres its southern breeding-range is approximately limited by 

 the 40th degree of north latitude, as it is found nesting in the Azores, 

 although on the European continent it does not apparently breed south 

 of the northern coast of France. On the British coasts it may be found 

 breeding everywhere in suitable situations, from the southern coasts to 

 the Orkneys and Shetlands, as well as in Ireland, where it is the most 

 common and most generalh' distributed gull during the nesting-season. 



L 



