6o KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FEORIDA. 



LARU5 ARQENTATU5 SMITHSONIANUS Cones. 

 American Herring Gull. 



White near end of outer primary separated 

 from the white tip by a band of l)lack. 

 J^Qit^. ' ,:/^;';////V/ J-// //////ivv Back pearl gray; liead. 



'^,^- . neck, and under parts white ; in winter the 



adult has the head and neck streaked with 

 ashy gray. First primary tipped with white 

 with a subterminal band of black; this, in 

 turn, is followed by a white band and then 

 another black one. 



Ijiiiiiaturc : (ieneral plumage mottled pale 

 brown or buff. 



Length. 24 : Wing. 17.50: Tail. 7.50: Bill, 

 2.10. 



The European species. Lanis argentatits, 

 is very similar, but has the two white marks 

 at tip of primary joined and not separated by the black. 



Ranges throughout North America: common in Florida in winter. It 



breeds from Maine northward. Nest constructed of grass or seaweed, 



usually on the ground ; eggs brownish white, lined and blotched with dark 



brown. 



LARUS DELAWARENSI5 OnL 

 Ring-billed Gull. 



^.^■^~'~^~~~^:.._ Adult ill siiinincr : Bill yellowish 



banded with black ; mantle pearl gray ; 

 -Tiii^^n^^ feet pale yellow or greenish ; first primary 

 *y ^ ^ I— i ir.«j^ g|^jjg^ black with a subterminal w-hite spot. In 



^^ winter, head and neck streaked with 



dusky : band on bill less distinct. 

 ''■ Iiiiinatiirc : General plumage mottled 



/» gi'ay or buff gray : bill yellowish tipped 



with black. 



Length. 1S.40 ; Wing. 14 : Tail. 6 : 15111, 

 1.65. 



Ranges throughout North 

 America, in winter south to Gulf 

 of Mexico. Not uncommon in Florida. Nests on the ground : eggs pale 

 buff marked with chocolate brown. 



m 



