THE BIRD BOOK 



55. SHORT-BILLED GULL. Larus brachy- 

 rhynchus. 



Range. Breeds from the interior of British 

 Columbia northward to Alaska; south in winter to 

 Lower California. 



The Short-billed or American Mew Gull is seven- 

 teen inches in length, has a short, stout bill and 

 is otherwise similar to the preceding species. 

 Nests on islands in the lakes and along the river 

 banks of Alaska. The nest is made of grass, 

 weeds and moss and is placed on the ground. 



Pale greenish-brown 



Early in June the birds lay their set of three eggs, 

 the ground color of which is greenish brown mark- 

 ed with dark brown. Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data, 

 Mackenzie River, N. W. T., June 13, 1900. Three 

 eggs. Nest made of seaweed and grass and placed 

 on the ground on an island in the river. 



[56.] MEW GULL. Larus canus. 



This is the European variety of the above spe- 

 cies, breeding commonly both in the British Isles 



and northern Europe. This species is given a place in our avifauna because 



of its accidental appearance in Labrador. 



Short-billed Gull 



Heerman's Gull 



57. HERRMAN'S GULL. Larus heermanni. 



Range. Pacific Coast of North America from British Columbia south to 

 Panama, breeding chiefly south of the United States border. 



A very handsome species, often called the White-headed Gull, and wholly 

 unlike any other; length seventeen inches. Adults, in summer, have the 

 ntire head, neck and throat white, this shading quite abruptly into the slaty 

 upper and upder parts; the primaries and tail are black, the latter and the 

 secondaries being tipped with white. The legs and bill are vermilion. They 

 are found off the coast of California, but are not believed to breed there. 

 They are known to breed on some of the islands off the Mexican coast nesting 

 on the ground the same as the other species. The three eggs are greenish 

 drab in color and are marked with different shades of brown and lilac. Size 

 2.45 x 1.50. 



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