28 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
state at some time of the year, and five which appear oc- 
casionally. 
While flying over the water in search of food they hold 
the head horizontally, so that the bill is in a line with the 
body. They do not plunge into the water for a fish or other 
food, but settle upon it, or take fish or other food from the 
surface. They catch fish alive, eat dead fish which may be 
thrown upon the shore by the waves, and eat greedily of 
the garbage thrown out from coast cities. The smaller 
gulls may also eat some insects. Gulls often follow in the 
wake of ships and snatch any morsel of food which may be 
thrown into the water. 
As scavengers the gulls take first rank because they are 
the most numerous birds along our coasts. The: congre- 
gate about the garbage scows in great numbers and prevent 
garbage from washing ashore to pollute earth and air. The 
laws for their protection should leave no room for a doubt 
as to their meaning in the mind of any one. 
9. (48.) Larus LEUCOPTERUS Faber. 274. 
Iceland Gull. 
Synonyms: White-winged Gull. 
Wheaton, Ohio Agri. Report, 1860, 370, 379. 
Besides the record which Dr. Wheaton has left us, of the 
capture of two or three specimens in Cleveland harbor, on 
the authority of Mr. R. K. Winslow, the only record is for 
Lorain, Dec. 22, 1888, on the authority of Mr. L. M. Mc- 
Cormick. A specimen was captured near Lorain on the 
lake, and preseved in the Oberlin College museum. 
10. (47.) Larus Marinus Linn. 275. 
Great Black-backed Gull. 
Synonyms: Saddle-back, Coffin-carrier, Cobb. 
Audubon, Orn. Biog., III, 1835, 98. 
Dr. Wheaton’s records for this gull are admittedly weak, 
and I am therefore glad to strengthen them by one actual. 
capture and one other record which is hardly open to ques- 
