NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 27 



510. Larus argentatus smithsonianus COUES. [6660.] 



American Herring Gull. 



Hab. North America generally. Breeds on the Atlantic coast from Maine northward. 



In North America this Gull is a common bird throughout its 

 range, particularly coast-wise. It is also more or less abundant on the 

 inland lakes and rivers during its periods of migration, and in many 

 of these places it is found breeding. At Moosehead Lake, Me., where 

 a few pair breed, the eggs are laid in the latter part of May, or in the 

 first week of June. In the interior this Gull is found breeding on the 

 lakes and larger bodies of water, as far north as the Mackenzie and 

 Anderson River regions. On many of the large prairie lakes of Mani- 

 toba it breeds in great numbers. Mr. Frazar mentions this species as 

 the most common of all the gulls inhabiting Labrador, breeding in 

 colonies and placing their nests on the ground.* In many places 

 where the Herring Gull has suffered persecution, it has been known to 

 depart from its usual habit of nesting on the open seashore, and place 

 its nest on trees sixty and seventy-five feet from the ground. 



At Grand Manan and in Labrador, in some of the old breeding 

 grounds, its human foes have brought about this change in its habits* 

 Some of the nests built on the ground are merely a shallow depression 

 with a slight lining, others are large and elaborately made of grass and 

 moss. Those built in trees are said to be strongly interwoven and very 

 compact. 



The complement of eggs is normally three ; they vary from bluish- 

 white to deep yellowish-brown, irregularly spotted and blotched with 

 brown of different shades ; in a large series a great diversity of ground- 

 color and markings exists. Mr. Blwin A. Capen in his superb workf 

 figures three prevailing types of coloration. The sizes range from 2.73 

 to 2.91 long by 1.64 to 194 broad. 



52. Larus cachinnans PALL. [667.] 



Pallas's Gull. 



Hab. Asia, from the Red Sea to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans; coast of Alaska, south in winter to 

 California. 



In the Old World this Gull has been found breeding on the shores 

 and islands of the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and at 

 the mouths of the Rivers Volga and Ural ; on the shores and islands 

 of the Caspian Sea, thence eastwardly and northerly on the inland 

 lakes and rivers through Asia to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. In 



* Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XII, p. 18. 



f Oology of New England: a description of the eggs, nests and breeding habits of the birds known to 

 breed in New England, with colored illustrations of their eggs. By Elwin A. Capen. Boston, 1886. 



