132 THE OREGON 
mentioned — not that its components are not 
sufficiently related to each other, but because the 
essential points of structure are shared to a con- 
siderable extent by other groups. ‘Thus, the 
osteological resemblances of the longipennine 
birds with loons, auks and plover, are quite 
close, while the digestive system ag-zees In gen- 
eral characters with that cf other fish-eatiug 
birds. 
acteristics of Larzdae; including Gulls Terns e/c, 
First, let us consider some of the char- 
NATURALIST. 
Th's family includes four leading genera, all 
of which occur in North America, 
The bill is of moderate length. The upper 
mandible may be either longer or shorter than 
the lower; the commissure verv large. The eyes 
are of moderate size and aie placed directly over 
the angle of the mouth, Tue wings are 
long, broad, strong, pointed, with little or no 
concavity. Tne thighs are-entirely covered and 
concealed, The anterior tocs are of moderite 
BILL OF LAUGHING GULL, (24 natura: siz>.) 
length, the middle, usually about equal to the 
tarsus. The'’claws are fully developed, com- 
pressed, curved, more or iess acute, the edge 
of the middle, dilated, but not serrated. The 
body is generally rather full, but sometimes 
slender. Neck rather loug, head of moderate 
size. The plumage is soft, close and thick,sim- 
ple in color, white, black, brown, or pearl-blue 
predominating; bright tints are hardly fond, 
ezcept on the bill or feet, or as a temporary 
condition. The sexes are alikein color, but the 
TO THE READERS OF THE 
NATURALIST, 
Two rather unusual incidents in the bird 
world happened here early in the spring. Two 
robins buiit a nest near the ladies dormitory, in 
a pine tree. For sume unknown reason the 
nest was deserted. 
with an economical eye took possession of the 
deserted home and soon altered the nest to suit 
Soon after a pair of doves 
their taste where they were successful in rear- 
ing their young, 
Two robins attempted to build a nest in a 
tree near that in which the above nest was 
plum gz varies great’y wih age and season, 
The representatives of this class, in this lo- 
cality, areas follows: Skua, AZegrdestr7s squa. 
Stercorartus lonricawlis, 
Kittiwake; Great Black- 
backed Gull; Zarus marinus. American Her- 
Pomarine Jaeger; 
Rissa tridactylus, 
ring Gull; Larus argentatus smithsonianus, 
and the Bonaparte’s Gull, Leraus piilad lphia 
of which we will speak further in our next 
paper. 
(To be cotinued) 
built. They had the nest about half done 
when the sparrows commenced to carry it 
away, and despite all the robins could d® their 
They 
tried it again and met with the same result and 
nest was destroyed and carried away. 
finally gave up in despair, 
L. S. HOPKINS. 
Antioch College, 
Obio. 
Yellow Springs, 
The Oregon Naturalist will be sent for the 
remainder of year, free to all new subscribers. 
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