AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 237 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



A, O. I/, ^o. 4-7. (Laras marinuj.) 



RANGE. 



The Atlantic coast from Maine northwards in the summer, and south in 

 the winter as far as Long Island. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 30 in.; extent, about 5.5 feet; tail. 7 in. Adult in summer: — 

 Bill, yellow, the lower mandible having a crimson spot near the end. 

 Eye, yellow; eyelid, red. Legs and feet, flesh color. The head, neck and 

 tail, and under parts, pure white. Back and wings, dark gray, almost 

 black. Primaries, secondaries, and coverts tipped with white. 



In winter the head and neck are slightly mottled with gray. 



Young: — Bill, black; feet, brownish. Upper parts, dark brown mottled 

 with white and buff. Under parts mottled with white and gray, being 

 lighter on the throat. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



These gulls breed during the latter part of May and June on the numer- 

 ous small islands along the Atlantic coast, north of the United States. 

 Their nests are rather large structures of dry grasses. They generally 

 lay three eggs, the color of which varies from a bluish gray to an olive 

 brown, and blotched with, reddish brown and gray. 



HABITS. 



Old Saddle-back is the name by which this large gull is known to near- 

 ly all Atlantic fishermen. This name is applied to him because of the 

 saddle like appearance of the dark gray mantle resting on his back be- 

 tween the white head and tail. He is one of the most tyrannical of all 

 the water fowls, and does his own will at all times, irrespective of the 

 rights of any other bird. He is a very powerful bird and those that can 

 dispute his title to "king of the seas" are few in number. 



The Great Black-backed Gulls are not as sociable as most of the others 

 of the family, and rarely do more than eight or ten pairs occupy the same 

 island. They have a very keen sight and although they are not afraid of 

 any other bird, they always, unless by accident, keep at a respectful dis- 

 tance from mankind. In this respect they are sometimes useful to others 

 of the water fowls that are less suspicious, acting as sentinels for them. 

 They do not by any means do this as a matter of accommodation; it is 

 simply that they are looking out for their own safety. In fact, instead of 

 doing any of their neighbors a favor, they are always looking for a chance 

 to rob them of their eggs or young. They feed on fish, shellfish, eggs 

 and meat, either fresh or otherwise. Many a member of the duck family, 

 wholly unable to cope with this powerful antagonist, has been compelled 



