HABITS OF THE HERRING GULL—STRONG. 489 
although a nearly complete adult plumage appears at the third 
autumnal molt. Sharpe’s account indicates that the adult colora- 
tion of the beak is not acquired until after the fourth autumn. 
[Norr.—The following observations were made too late to appear 
in the paper published in the Auk: 
The bills of the gulls obtained at Ephraim changed to the adult 
yellow toward the end of their third year. By April 12, 1914, the 
bills of both birds had acquired a pale-yellow color. By May 3 the 
yellow had become as rich as that of the adult, but the black subter- 
minal spot still remained. On May 13 I noted that the adult orange 
color of this spot was to be seen distinctly at the proximal margin. 
Both birds had lost most of their mottled plumage during the pre- 
ceding two months and at a distance appeared almost entirely adult 
in color, though the white portion of the plumage still contained many 
dark gray flecks. During this period, the, birds became more adult 
in behavior, and during the latter part of it the “challenge”’ ery de- 
veloped rapidly. The notes of the alarm cry also appeared for the 
first time. Another gull of the same age which had been in bad 
health for several months made no progress in color or behavior. 
Further observations were ended a few days later when a marauder 
broke into the gull yard and released my birds. | 
Very meager data are available as to when breeding begins. A 
case is described by Dutcher‘ of a gull which apparently began 
breeding when two years old. 
It is my judgment that herring gulls rarely breed this early. I 
saw a few with a very small amount of the immature coloration in 
their plumage, which were certainly at least 2 years old. I obtained 
no evidence that these birds were breeding except the fact of their 
occurrence with breeding birds at a breeding place. All of the birds 
that I actually saw with eggs or young were adult, as far as I could 
see. 
I have seen relatively few immature gulls during the spring and 
summer after their first winter, but this is probably due to their 
scattered distribution. Many individuals linger some distance 
south of the breeding range of the species. Thus Townsend speaks 
of immature gulls being abundant at all seasons off the coast of 
Essex County, Mass., though herring gulls do not now breed south 
of Maine on the New England coast. Immature gulls are also seen 
over the south portion of Lake Michigan during the breeding season, 
though the nearest breeding place is many miles to the north. 
Concerning the longevity of the herring gull, I have found two rec- 
ords which indicate that the period of life may be considerable, 
though giving no idea how long it may be. Thus Morris? mentions 
1Dutcher, W., Results of special protection to gulls and terns obtained through the Thayer fund: Auk, 
vol. 18, 1901, No. 1, p. 98. 
4 Morris, F. O., A history of British birds. Vol. 6, p. 159, 
