THe WHtre-WINGED: FLEET 
from the north. By the middle of August, among 
flocks tot) Merns yes cam, Otten pick: out a bird), or 
two of heavier build, square tail, and slower flight, 
that proves to be Bonaparte’s Gull in winter dress, 
without the striking black hood. By September, 
Opyeven carer, our familiar Herning “Gull begins 
to return south from the breeding-grounds. If we 
look carefully we may notice a very similar Gull 
that is a little smaller, known as the Ring-bill, 
which, in the coast-region, goes in summer far to 
the snort.» In late fall- the) beautitul) Kitttwake 
becomes abundant well off shore on the fishing- 
grounds, and the big fellows appear,—the Great 
Black-backed, which becomes fairly common, and 
the rare Glaucus Gull, or Burgomaster. 
I well remember when I first saw the “‘ Burgo- 
master’’ alive. I was watching a flock of Herring 
Gulls feeding just off one of the Boston docks in 
midwinter, when I became aware of the presence 
of a larger individual, a magnificent Gull, white 
all over, without even the black wing-tips of the 
others. With them it was hovering, wheeling, and 
alighting to pick up morsels from the water, no 
more fearful than they. There was no doubt as 
to what it was, and I watched it for an hour before 
it went down the bay. Its spread of six feet across 
the wings gave it an impressive appearance. 
This is the size also of the Great Black-backed 
Gull, that is also known as Turkey Gull, Minister 
Gull, and by other names. The black plumage of 
its upper parts in contrast with the pure white below 
makes it, in the adult phase, very conspicuous. 
But it is one of the shyest of birds. ‘The Herring 
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