BIRDS OF NEW YORK 1 35 



Distribution. Next to the Herring gtdl this is the best known and 

 most general!}' distributed gull in the State, especially in the interior. It 

 occurs as a transient visitant in considerable numbers on our inland lakes, 

 as well as the seacoast, and a few are occasionally seen in winter on Long 

 Island and the Great Lakes. It is purely an American species and breeds 

 in high latitudes. 



Migration. On Long Island it arrives from the north in October or 

 early November and returns to the north in April, Mr Butcher's latest 

 date being May 4, and Dr Braislin's, May 11. On Lake Ontario and other 

 inland waters it usualh' arrives from the south from the 2d to the 15th of 

 April, leaves for the north from the 20th of May to the loth of June, returns 

 from the north October ist to 20th and departs for the south from the 

 ist to the 20th of November. 



Habits. This little gull is more often found in flocks than our other 

 species and is frequently seen fl>'ing over swamps and plowed iields, search- 

 ing for worms and insects; btit is usually met with on the lakes and rivers 

 hunting its food like the Herring gull. It is, far less wary than that species. 



Larus minutus Pallas 



Little Gull 



Larus minutus Pallas. Reisen Russ. Reichs. 1771. Apx. 35. 3:702 



A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 2. 1895. No. [60.1] 



minu'tus, Lat., verv^ small 



Distinctive marks. The very small size of this gull, the smallest of 

 its race, will distinguish it. The mature bird has a black head, pale mantle, 

 lake-red bill, vemiilion feet, and no black on the primaries. The young 

 are extensively dark brown above; the primaries brownish black in the 

 center, edged and tipped with white; tail has a broad black band. 



Length 10. 4-1 1.5 inches; wing 8.7-9; tail 4; bill .9-1; tarsus i; middle 

 toe and claw i. 



This old world species is verj- rare in North America. Besides the 

 doubtful record by Swainson and Richardson, and one from the Bermudas, 

 there are only two specimens from this covmtr}-, both taken on Long Island ; 

 the first an immature specimen shot at Fire Island, Suffolk co., N. Y., 



