192 KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



LARUS ARQENTATU5 SMITHSONIANUS Cones. 

 American Herring Qull. 



White near end of outer primary separated 

 from the white tip by a band of black. 



Adult in su miner: Back pearl gray; head, 



neck, and under parts white ; in winter the 



•^^^ adult has the head and neck streaked with 



^ ashy gray. First primary tipped with white 



with a subterminal band of black; this, in 



turn, is followed by a white band and then 



\ another black one. 



\ Iiinnatiire : General plumage mottled pale 



\ brown or buff. 



Length, 24; Wing, 17.50; Tail. 7.50; Bill, 

 2.10. 



The European species, Lams argentaius, 

 is very similar, but has the two white marks 

 at tip of primary joined and not separated by the black. 



Ranges throughout North America ; common in Florida in winter. It 

 breeds from Maine northward. Nest constructed of grass or seaweed, 

 usually on the ground ; eggs brownish white, lined and blotched with dark 

 brown. 



LARUS DELAWARENSI5 Ord. 

 Ring-billed Qull. 



,.-«b5* /^„. j-r — . Adult in sitininer : Bill yellowish 



# ..yCii% banded with black ; mantle pearl gray ; 



y -^miUl^^^ fgg(- paig yellow or greenish ; first primary 



^y f "-"^""^tSS^^^B^ black with a subterminal white spot. In 



winter, head and neck streaked with 

 dusky : band on bill less distinct. 



^ Iinntatiire : General plumage mottled 



-^ gray or buff gray ; bill yellowish tipped 



'* * with black. 



Length, 18.40 ; Wing, 14; Tail, 6 ; Bill, 



1.65. 



Ranges throughout North 

 America, in winter south to Gulf 

 of Mexico. Not uncommon in Florida. Nests on the ground ; eggs pale 

 buff marked with chocolate brown. 



