BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 39 
old. It is possible that when the nest is seventy-five 
feet up in a tree the nestlings, like those of the wood 
ducks, are carried down by one of the adults. 
53. CALIFORNIA GULL. — Larus californicus. 
Famity: The Gulls and Terns. 
Length: 21.50. 
Adults: Head, neck, and under parts white ; mantle dark slate-gray ; 
the yellow bill marked with red spot, touching or encircling a black 
spot near end of lower mandible; iris bright brown ; feet light 
green. 
Young: Head, neck, and lower parts white, washed with brownish 
gray ; upper parts mottled gray and buffy; quills and tail-feathers 
rusty black. 
Downy Young: Light ash-gray, marked with black spots on head and 
washed with dark gray on back, wings, and tail. 
Geographical Distribution: Western North America, chiefly in the inte- 
rior from Alaska to Mexico. 
Breeding Range: Inland lakes of Oregon, Washington, British Colum- 
bia, and Utah. 
Breeding Season: Approximately, May 15 to August 15. 
Nest: Of sticks and grasses, lined with feathers ; on ground, on rocks, 
or in low sagebrush near water. 
Eggs: 3to 5; from blue-white to gray-brown. Size 2.50 X 1.65. 
Tue California Gull is a regular winter visitant on the 
coast, but disappears usually about May 1. It breeds 
abundantly on Lake Malheur, Oregon, on Great Salt 
Lake, Utah, and as far north as Great Slave Lake. 
It may easily be distinguished from the other species by 
its smaller size. Mr. Loomis reports it as abundant at 
Monterey, where it is found in company with the west- 
ern and glaucous-winged. During the winter it is com- 
mon on all the fresh-water marshes as well as the coast, 
throughout Southern California. Mrs. Bailey says, “ At 
