s 



26 RING-BILLED GULL. 



domiciles in the last n.amed situation, is due to the constant persecution to which the bird 

 are subjected. Another peculiarity which is observable in the history of these Gulls, is that 

 they are retreating iVoni the coast to breed in the interior, where they are not as liable to 

 be molested. Some of these Gulls, mostly immature birds, linger about the northern coast 

 of Massachusetts all summer. 



LAKi;S DELAWARENSIS. 



Ring-billed Gull. 



Lotus Dilawamisis Old., (ailh. Cleo.i;., II; 1S15, 319. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size.mcilium. Color. Ai/u/t. Back and entire wings, very liglitpenrly-blue. Primaries, 



very broiully tipped with black, fir^t quill broadly banded, s-mnd spotted and (jthers, witli secondaries and tertiarios, tipped 



with wliite. Remainder of plumage, also wbito. Bill, grcenisji, crossed near tip witli a band ofdark-lirown, iris, yellow, 



and feet, greenish. In winter. Similar, but with head and neck spoHel with dusky. Votciiy, ashy-brown throughout, 



darkest above, mottled with lighter. Primaries, black. Tail, white with subterminal band of black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Ea.sily recognized by the ring around liill. Distributed, in summer, from Labrador and the Great Lakes, nortbward. 

 Winters from Chesapeake Bay, southward. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimeas from North America. Length, 19'50; stretch, 4i)"()0: wing, 1453; tail, 5-50; bill, 

 I 62; tarsus, 2V2. Longest specimen, 23-0'J; greatest extent of wing, 50-2;); longest wing, 15-12: tail, G'OH; bill, 1-75; tar- 

 sus, 2 25. Shortest specimen, I'J-OO; smallest extent of wing, 4'S-OO; shortest wing, 1 t'OO; tail, S'OO; bill, PSO; tarsus, 200. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground or on clitfs, composed of sticks, etc. Eijijs, three or four in numlier, oval in form, vary- 

 ing from bluish-white to dark-brown in color, spotted and blotched with brown and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions 

 from 1-60 .\ 2-75 to l-75x2-80. 



11 A I UTS. 



I found the Ring-billed Gulls more abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, during winter, 

 tlian I ever saw them elsewhere, but they occur on the east coast of Florida at this season, 

 and also further north in autumn, though they are never very ciminion in Massachusetts. 

 Those Galls which resemble the Laughing Gull in general habits, breed along the borders 

 of the Gretit Ltikes, in Labrador, and northward. 



LARUS ATRICILLA. 

 Laughing Gull. 

 Larus atrialla Linn., Syst. Nat., I, 1766, 225. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Back.and wings, .slaty-blue, becoming black toward termi- 

 nal portion of primaries, which with secondaries are tipped with white. Remainder of plumage, white, strongly tinged 

 with rosy beneath. Iris and feet, brown, bill, dark purplish-lake. In winter, and Yvunij. Similar, but lacks the dark 

 head wliich is replaced by white mottled with ashy. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the dark head, rosy tint, and slaty-blue color above. Distributed, in summer, from Maine, southward, win- 

 ters in FloriJa. 



DLMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens. Length, 16-25; stretch, 41 50; wing, 12-50; tail, 5-45; bill, 1-62; tarsus, -1-88. 

 Longest specimen, 17-00; greatest extent of wing, 42-50; longest wing, 13-00; tail, 5-90; liill, 175; tarsus, 200. Shortest 

 specimen, 15-50; smallest extent of wing, 4I1-50; shortest wing, 12-00; tail, 5-00; bill, 1-52; tarsus, ITS. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nesls, )>lacc(l on the ground in sandy places, compo.sed of grass, weeds, etc. F.(j(js, three or four in number, oval in 

 form, varying from bluish-white to ashy-green in color, spotted and lilotched with brown, umber, and lilac of varying 

 sliadcs. Diffiensi(ms from 1-52x2-00 to 1-65x2-30. 



HABITS. 



The notes of Gulls are loud and startling, but those of the Laughing are the most sin- 

 guLirof them idl, for their cries, especially when the birds are excited, sound like loud 



