230 . BIRDS OF IT^LINOIS. 



LaruB argentatus smithsonianus Coues. 



AMERICAN HEEEING GULL. 



Pop-jlar synomyms. Sea Gull; Gray Gull (young). 



Lams araen(a/oides BBEHM.Beitr. Tog. lil, 1822, 791, 799 (part).— Sw. & Rich. F. B.-A. 11' 



1831, 417 (?). 

 Larus argentatns BONAP. Synop. 1828, 360, No. 300 (not of Linn.).— Nutt. Man. ii, 1834, 304.— 

 AuD. Orn. Biog. iii, 1835, 588; v, 183D, C38; Synop. 1839, 3i8; Synop. 1839, 328; B. Am. vil, 

 1844, 163.pl. 448.— Lawb. in Balrd's B. N. Am. 1858, 814.— BAlKD.Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No, 

 C61.-(JouES, Key, 1872, 312.— Sausdeks, P. Z. S. 1878, 167 ;pait). 

 Larus smithsonianus CoUES, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 296. 



Larus argentatus, var. smithsonianus CouES, Check List. 1873. No. 547 6. 



Larus argentatus, b. smithsonianus CoUES, B. N. W. 1871, 625. 



Larus argentatus smitlisonianus Bidqw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 666 a; Mau. N. Am. 



B. 1887. 31.— CoUES, 2d Check Li-,t, 1882. No. 773.— A. O. U. Cheek List. 1886, No. 51 n. 

 Larus argentatus, fi. smithsonianus B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. ii, 1881, 235. 



Hab. North America in general, more especially the Atlantic coast, where extending 

 from Labrador to Cuba; breeding from eastern Maine northward; frequent throughout the 

 interior, on the larger inland waters, and occasional on the Pacific coast. 



SuBSP. Chae. Similar to true L. argentatus, but averaging larger, and adult with the 

 white on the outer quill crossed by a subterminal bar or spot of black, this rarely less than 

 .50 of an inch wide, and often extending to the extreme tip, thus reducing the white to a 

 subterminal spot. 



Length, 22.50-26.00 inches; wing, 16.25-17.50 (average, 17.21); culmen, 1.95-2.50 (2.24); depth 

 of bill through angle, .68-85 (.79) : tarsus. 2.30-2.80 (2.57), middle toe, without claw, 1.85-2.25 (2.10). 



The character of the markings on the outermost quill is more 

 to be (3epende(3 on as a (iistinctive character of the American 

 Herring Gull than the (3ifference of size, which is far less con- 

 stant, many specimens, especially among those from Cumber- 

 land Gulf and other extreme uortheastei-n localities combining 

 the smaller size of the European with the wing pattern of the 

 American bird. 



With perhaps the exception of the Ring billed Gull (Z. de/a- 

 warensis), this is the commonest gull of eastern North America 

 in general, and the only one which is found in considerable num- 

 bers during winter on the waters, both coast and inland, of the 

 United States east of the Rocky Mountains. 



It breeds from the coast of Maine and southern Minnesota 

 northward, and winters neai'ly throughout the country to the 

 southward. According to Professor Cooke* it was seen at Cliicago 

 in the winter of 1888-84, and usually a few winter on Lake 

 Michigan. As a rule it is found in winter throughout Illinois 



'Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valleu, p. 65. 



