OCEAN BIRDS. 151 



No. 153. GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL. 



Order: Longipennes. Genus: Larus. 



Family: Laridas. Species: L. marinus. 



Distribution: 



A winter visitor along the coast. 



Date of Arrival: 

 September. 



Date of Departure: 

 April. 



General Plumage: 



In summer, upper parts grayish black, wings white tipped ; 

 under parts white. In winter, similar, head streaked. 

 Immature, upper parts brownish marked with buff, long 

 wing leathers dark, a few white tipped, head region grayish. 

 tail black and white ; under parts white, ashy marked. 

 Bill black, base yellowish, feet yellow. Length about 29.00. 



Song and Other Notes: 



Various loud noisy cries. 



Haunts: 



A bird of the ocean while with us. 



