192 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



LARUS ARGENTATUS SMITHSONIANUS Cours. 

 American Herring Gull. 



White near end of outer primary separated 

 from the white tip by a band of black. 



Adult in sitinmer: Back pearl gray; liead, 

 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. 



Iiiiiitaiurc : General plumage mottled pale 

 brown or buff. 



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

 2.10. 



The European species, Lams argoitatus, 

 is very similar, but has the two white marks 

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



Raii^res throuchout 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. 



h 



LARUS DELAWARENSIS Ord. 

 Ring^billed Gull. 



of Mexico. Not unconnnon in Florida, 

 buff marked with chocolate brown. 



Adult iu suuiuicr : Bill yellowish 

 banded with black; mantle pearl gray : 

 feet pale yellow or greenish : lirst primary 

 l)lack with a suliterminal white spot. In 

 winter, head and neck streaked with 

 dusky : band on bill less distinct. 



Iinmature : General plumage mottled 

 gray or buff gray ; bill yellowish tipped 

 with black. 



Length. I cS. 40 : Wing. 14: Tail, 6 : Bill, 

 1.65. 



Ranges throughout North 



America, in winter south to Gulf 



Nests on the groimd : eggs pale 



