34 NE8T8 AND BOOS OF 



just deep enough to keep the eggs from rolling out. The nests are made on the 

 and or any other bare spot on islands far out in the lake. The eggs are laid about 

 the middle of May. They vary from a bluish-white to a deep brownish-clay color, 

 potted and blotched with dark brown, slate and blackish zigzag markings. Sizes 

 range from 2.50 to 2.70 long by 1.G5 to 1.95 broad. 



54. RING-BILLED GULL. Lanis dclaicarcnsis Ord. Geog. Dist. North 

 America at large; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico. 



This Gull inhabits the entire Continent of North America, and is on the whole, 

 ommonest species ooth coastwise and in the interior. It breeds in the United 

 States and far north, placing its nests on the ground or on cliffs. Mr. Walter Raine 

 found this gull breeding abundantly on the islands of Shoal Lake, Manitoba, in the 

 latter part of Juno. Mr. Stebbins found this species and the Common Tern occupying 

 an island of about an acre in extent in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, in the first week 

 of June. The entire island was covered with eggs of the gulls and terns. Mr. 

 Stebbins says: "I don't suppose you could lay down a two-foot rule anywhere with- 

 out each end of it striking a nest. It was common to find the terns and gulls breed- 

 ing side by side. Most of the gulls' nests were in the grass, while those of the terns 

 were in the sand. I did not find a gull's nest with more than three eggs, and a very 

 few with two; whereas, several hollows were found with as many as eighteen terns' 

 eggs in them, which had rolled together." Mr. Frazar observed a few colonies of 

 this species breeding in Labrador, nesting like other gulls, and the nests never con- 

 tained more than three eggs. These have the usual variations in color to be found 

 in eggs of the terns bluish-white to dark brown, spotted and blotched with brown 

 and lilac of various shades. Sizes from 2.75 to 2.80 long by 1.60 to 1.75 broad. 



55. SHORT-BILLED GULL. Larus Itrarhjirhynchus Rich. Geog. Dist 

 Arctic America and Pacific coast to Southern California. 



In the breeding season the Short-billed Gull occurs in the northern regions of 



:i America. It has been found nesting on the ground in the small lakes in the 



ity of Fort Anderson, and in the Mackenzie River Valley. Breeds in great 



abundance at the mouth of the Yukon, where Mr. Dall obtained large numbers of 



its eggs. It has also been observed nesting along the streams in the Barren Grounds 



of the Arctic regions. Its nest is made of hay or wiry grass, and is sometimes placed 



on stumps and in trees. The eggs are usually three in number; greenish or olive 



brown, with various markings, but chiefly small spots of reddish-umber. Sizes vary 



froto 2.00 to 2.35 long by 1.45 to 1.70 broad. 



56. MEW GULL, i.nrux mint* Linn. Geog. Dist. Europe and Asia; acci- 

 dental in Labrador. 



This is the Sea-mew or Sea-mall of Europe. In r.r< -at Britain it breeds more or 

 ten abundantly along the entire coast, and is especially common on some of the 

 lands in the Hebrides; on the north coast of Scotland it is found on the 

 Orkney and Shetland Islands. It breeds on inland lakes as well as on the sea-coast, 

 building its nest on the grassy summits of jin-ripitous rocks neai the sea or on 

 moorland locks far inland, and even on high mountain ranges. It is abundant on 

 the coast and on the fresh-water lakes of Norwn mon species and breeds 



f Central and Northern Russia. Abundant on the Prussian coast 

 and on tho northern coast of France. The nests are made of grass and vegetable 

 substances. The usual number of eggs is three; yellowish-brown, olive-brown, and 

 whitish to -gray, irregularly marked with dark brown and purplish gray. 



Thp size varios from 2.08 to 2.25 long by 1.40 to 1.58 broad. 



