244 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



Larus MABIN03 Linn. — Great Black-backed Gull. " Saddle-backed Gull." 



"Saddler." 

 Larus marinus, Aud., Birds Amer. vii. 172. pi. 450. Lawrence, Gen. Rep, 844. 



The Great Black-backed Gull, which, with the single exception of the Glau- 

 cous Gull, is the most powerful of its tribe, is a very abundant bird during the 

 summer months along the whole coast of Labrador. Indeed, this is almost the 

 only locality on this side of the Atlantic where its habits during the breeding 

 season can be successfully studied ; the peculiar character of the coast renders 

 it well adapted to the wants of the birds, and it is therefore their favorite 

 breeding place. I was informed that it arrives there about the latter part of 

 May, but with reference to its time of departure, I cannot reconcile ray observa- 

 tions with those of Audubon. He states that " by the 12th of that month 

 (August) they had all left Labrador ;" whereas, I found them still numerous 

 on the first of September, and I think I never saw so many of both old and 

 young as I did at Henley Harbor on the 30th of August. At what time they 

 really do depart, or whether any remain all winter, I am unable to say. I can 

 account for this and many other discrepancies between our observations with 

 respect to date, only by supposing the season in which Audubon visited the 

 country was a very early one, or that last summer was remarkably delayed. 



This species generally chooses for the situation of its nest one of the many 

 small islands, some of them mere rocks jutting out of the water, which every- 

 where stud the Labrador coast; and contrary to the usual habit of Gulls, it 

 does not congregate in large numbers upon a single island, not more than two 

 or three nests being commonly placed together. It sometimes, however, mixes 

 with the Herring Gulls, for among several hundred of the latter, which circled 

 high over our heads when we invaded their territories, I never failed to detect 

 a few of the Black-backed. I was surprised to find it breeding on some inland 

 ponds, (there also in company with the Herring Gulls,) the nests being placed 

 on small rocks jutting out of the water. In these situations I have thought 

 them less shy than when breeding on islands open to the sea. The nest is large 

 and bulky, composed of moss and lichens scraped into a heap, the cavity ap- 

 parently formed by the weight of the bird. They are rather shallow for the 

 width, which is nearly or quite two feet externally. The eggs are three, as is 

 usual among the Gulls and Terns, and differ much in size, shape and color, even 

 in those taken from the same nest, some being smaller than the average of 

 Herring Gulls, though they are usually proportionately larger. 



On the 4th of July three young birds of this species, apparently but a few 

 days old, were procured and placed in a basket together with a number of 

 Herring Gulls of about the same age. Even thus early they evinced their su- 

 periority in size and strength over the other species, for, on looking at them 

 next morning, I found that, their quarters being rather crowded, they had 

 trampled to death every one of the others, and were standing triumphantly 

 over the mass of dead bodies, calling loudly for food. When fed they exhibited 

 the greatest voracity and gluttony, each devouring at a meal three or four cap- 

 elm some six inches long, which they could swallow whole, and they quarrelled 

 and fought continually for choice morsels. Two of these birds were left in 

 charge of a fisherman at Henley Harbor, and on our return, about seven weeks 

 afterwards, they had grown to fully the size of the adults, and were magnificent 

 birds and great favorites. They kept their plumage perfectly clean and in good 

 crdtir, and were very tame. They weie then mottled all over with spots of 

 dusky, most of the primaries, and a snbterroinal band on the tail, black; bill 

 entirely black, legs and feit light flesh color. This is the plumage in which 

 these Gulls lemain the greater part of the first year. One of the birds was 

 mucb larger and stronger than the other, which it tyrnnnized over continually 

 and kept in perfect subjection. Both uttered frequently a whining noise, espe- 

 cially when hungry; which state, however, seems to be the normal condition of 

 all Gulls, both young and old. 



[Aug. 



