Todd: liiRDs of Erik and Prkscjuk Isle. 503 



9. Larus argentatus. IIi.kkinc ('.ili.. 



This gull is a regular winter resident in the vicinity of Erie, and it 

 is certainly an abundant species during the migrations. A flock of a 

 do/en individuals was observed March 21, 1900, at the mouth of Mill 

 Creek, feeding in the only open water at that time on the bay. Before 

 the end of the month their numbers had largely increased, but through 

 April gradually diminished, although the last individual to be recorded 

 was noted as late as May 12. At this season the species was usually 

 found in scattered companies, rarely exceeding a dozen individuals, 

 feeding in the waters of the bay or resting on the edge of the ice. A 

 large proportion of the birds occurring early in the spring were adults, 

 but with the advance of the season these became scarcer and scarcer, 

 and all the later records were of gray birds. There is a specimen in 

 Mr. Sennett's collection taken as late as May 16, 1875, ^^^^^ ^^- Bacon 

 states that he has often seen them on the open lake in summer, although 

 they seem never to frequent the harbor at that season. He is inclined 

 to think that they may breed on the Canadian shore of Lake Erie, but 

 while such may have been the case many years ago, there would seem 

 to be no recent records to justify such a supposition. The })robabilities 

 are that the birds seen in summer are non-breeding and immature indi- 

 viduals, which have failed to follow the bulk of the species to their usual 

 nesting-grounds. In the fall of 1900 a single bird was seen on August 

 22, and what was presumably the same individual was noted at inter- 

 vals up to September 6. The following day three were seen, and on 

 September 12, after a stormy night, the species had become abundant, 

 and so remained until the date of our departure in November. IJoth 

 young and old appeared together at this time, when the former far 

 outnumbered the latter. Although commonly found on the bay, im- 

 mense flocks frecjuented the open lake as well, standing in more or 

 less close order on the sandy outside shore, flying out to alight on the 

 water when disturbed. They were at all times shy, but once or twice, 

 during heavy storms, it became ])Ossil)le to a])proach within gunshot. 

 They were accustomed to follow in the wake of the numerous fishing 

 tugs as they came into the harl)or with their catch of fish, ready to 

 pick u\) what was thrown overboard. None were ever seen in the 

 ponds, although often they were observed soaring high over the Penin- 

 sula, on their way between the bay and lake. Mr. Bacon's experience 

 has been much the same. He states that on April 25 and 26, 1901, 

 he noted a ])air about a pond in the fields, and has once or twice in 



