18 NOTES ON THE 



LARUS DELAWARENSIS Ord. (54.) 

 RING-BILLED GULL. 



The Ring-billed Gulls have become much more numerous 

 through a gradual increase since my first observation of them 

 in 1857. 



They are the most abundant of their family, and extensively 

 distributed over the lacustrine regions of the commonwealth, 

 breeding in all places adapted to their habits. Prof. Clarence 

 Herrick reported them abundantly breeding at Lake Shatek in 

 the southwestern part of the State — Murray county I believe — 

 as early as any were reported to me from remote parts. Within 

 much less distant points, I observed that it was relatively 

 common and within a short period its extensive breeding has 

 been fully known. 



They may be seen as early as the 10th of April in forward 

 seasons, but are more frequently later, but at once upon their 

 arrival seem to be as much at home as if no inclement season 

 had driven them southward six months before. At Bigstone, 

 and at Mille Lacs lakes, and doubtless at a large number of 

 other similar lakes amongst the thousands of the State, they 

 breed on the ground, and where available on elevated promon- 

 tories, but where the country is uniformly flat, as in Grant 

 county where I have been to study their nidifications, they 

 seek sandy shores or even small ponds occasionally, in very 

 infrequented sections. Wiierever it is they are gregarious. 



Mosses constitute the bulk of the material of their nests, 

 with which there is employed more or less grass, and from 

 continuing to add a little new material every year, the nests 

 often become quite elevated and remarkably conspicuous 

 occasionally after several years. 



About the first week in June the work of incubation com- 

 mences by the daily deposit of a grayish-green egg, until three 

 are layed. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Head, neck, tail, and under parts, pure white; back and 

 wings light pearl-blue; first and second primaries black two- 

 thirds their length towards the end, the three next quills with 

 the black much less in extent, and on the sixth it is reduced to 

 a sub terminal bar; the first quill is black at the end, above 

 which is a broad white band; the second quill black to its tip, 

 with a white spot on the inner web an inch and a half from the 

 end; the other primaries tipped with white; secondaries and 

 tertiaries ending in white; iris, yellow; bill crossed near the 



