40 WATER BIRDS 
Pescadero in the low fields near the ocean, hundreds 
have been seen following the plough.” A similar state- 
ment has been made of two other varieties, the ring- 
billed and the short-billed. 
54. RING-BILLED GULL. — Larus delawarensis. 
Famity: The Gulls and Terns. 
Length : 19.00. 
Adults in Summer: Head, neck, lower parts, and tail white ; mantle 
pearl-gray ; first primary black, with white patch near tip; rest of 
primaries gray, washed with black on outer web and tipped with 
white ; iris pale yellow; eyelids red; bill greenish yellow, banded 
near end with black and tipped with orange ; feet yellowish green. 
Adults in Winter: Similar, but with ashy streaks on head and nape. 
Young: Upper parts dark ashy, mottled with buff; outer primaries 
black ; upper half of tail-feathers pearl-gray, meeting a broad band of 
black which extends to a narrow white tip; bill yellowish at base, 
shading into black at tip. 
Downy Young: Dull gray-white ; head spotted with black ; back washed 
with dusky. 
Geographical Distribution: Entire North America ; south in winter to 
Cuba and Mexico. 
Breeding Range: Northern portions of the United States, and inland 
lakes of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 
Breeding Season: Approximately, May 1 to August 1. 
Nest: Of coarse grass ; on ground, near water. 
Eggs: 2to 3; buffy gray, spotted with chocolate. Size 2.77 X 1.67. 
ALTHOUGH the Ring-billed Gull is a more or less 
locally common species in every part of the United 
States, it is more abundant on the Atlantic than on the 
Pacific coast. In habits it is like the herring gull, but 
may be distinguished by its smaller size, yellowish green 
feet, and banded bill. Quite un-sea-bird-like, it relishes 
the Jarvee of marsh insects as well as the adult forms, 
and during fall migrations it catches them on the wing, 
