BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 4l1 
as do swallows. In some localities it has been seen feed- 
ing among the freshly turned furrows of a ploughed field. 
There is reason to believe that, unlike some members of 
its family, it never robs other birds either of food, eggs, 
or young, but is content with the small fish and insects 
it can pick up on inland marshes and meadows. 
57. HEERMANN GULL. — Larus heermanni. 
Famity : The Gulls and Terns. 
Length : 18.75. 
Adults in Summer: Upper parts dark slate-color ; head and neck white ; 
under parts dusky gray; wings and tail black, the latter tipped with 
white ; bill scarlet. 
Adults in Winter: Similar, but head very dark, nearly black. 
Downy Young: Dark ash-color, the feathers of upper parts edged with 
buffy ; head mottled. 
Immature (Second Year?) : Entire plumage uniformdark ash ; tail black. 
Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of North America from British 
Columbia south to Panama. 
Breeding Ranye: From Coronado Islands northward ; does not breed at 
the Farallones. 
Breeding Season: Approximately, May 20 to August 1. 
Nest: On ground near water, or on cliffs ; scantily lined with coarse 
grass or mss. 
Eggs: 2to3; greenish gray, marked with lilac and brown. Size 2.45 X 
1.50. 
Tut Heermann Gull may be readily distinguished 
from any other species by its darker plumage. It is a 
curious sight to see these handsome birds at San Diego 
Bay and La Jolla following an unlucky pelican who has 
a fine pouchful of fish. They fly over and around him, 
darting down to peck at him with their bills until he is 
forced to disgorge his catch. The dignified and methodi- 
cal pelican is no match for these swift flyers, and soon 
yields to the inevitable. I have seen the same pelican 
