36 <T8 AND BOOS OF 



splashes are more cvcul; distributed over the surface. The ground-color varies 

 from dirty white to olive-drab and light brown, with all the shades of the lighter 

 tints of green and ashy. They are usually marked with numerous and bold splashes 

 and zigzag lines of umber-brown and different depths of chocolate, particularly at 

 the larger end. The eggs average about 2.12x1.40; they are three in number. Three 

 eggs in my possession, collected at Heron Lake, Minnesota, on the 9th of May, 

 measure as follows: 2.06x1.41, 1.98x1.45, 2.03x1.47. These are olive-drab with bold 

 spots and blotches of light and dark brown; there are no zigzag lines. 



GO. BONAPABTE'S GULL. Law* Philadelphia (Ord.) Gcog. Dist. Entire 

 North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States; south in vinter to 

 Mexico and Central America. 



This handsome little gull is a common species throughout North America, from 

 tjjc Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. It is especially abundant along the Atlantic coast 

 during its period of migration. Breeds northward nearly to the Arctic Ocean, its 

 flight is described as being light, airy and very graceful, resembling that of the 

 Terns. Its principal food is small fish. On many of the large lakes and marshes in 



;<rairie regions of Manitoba it breeds in great numbers, from thence northward 

 and throughout all parts of the Fur Countries it is found breeding in suitable places. 

 In the marshes of the wooded regions bordering the Mackenzie River it breeds in the 

 latter part of June. The usual number of eggs laid is three, rarely four. The nests 

 are always placed in elevated situations, in bushes, trees, or on high stumps; the 

 materials used are sticks and grasses, with a lining of vegetable substances. The 

 eggs vary from greenish to brown, spotted and blotched with brown, umber and lilac 

 of various shades; these markings are chiefly clustered around the larger end. 

 Size. 1.96x1.^1. 



60. 1. LITTLE GULL. Laru* winutiis Pall. Geog. Dist. Europe and parts of 

 Asia and Africa: accidental in the Bermudas and on Long Island. 



We can now positively include this bird in the North American avifauna. It 

 has long been more or less doubtfully recognized by ornithologists as accidently 

 A.'rarrJcau upon the strength of a specimen said to have been taken on tin- first 

 i.lin expedition. Its place in our fauna has always been questionable. Mr. 

 William Dutcher records the capture of an immature specimen of this gull which was 

 shot at Fire Island, Suffolk county, New York (Long Island), about Srjm nil 



It was mounted by the lain John Wallace, lazldem Vork City, who 



nted it to the American Museum of Natural History. Ontral Park. Mr. 11. K. 

 Swann in his "Birds of London" mentions this gull as of rare occurrence in ti 

 cinity of Jthough it occurs from time to time, during the winter, on the 



: Finland. It is stated by Prof. Nillson that this gull is known to breed 

 in the- marshrs in tl.e vicinity of the Baltic, placing the nests on the grassy knolls 

 en. Three eggs constitute the complement, and their color varies from 

 wish-brown, olive-brown to greenish-gray marked with spots of dark brown 

 ' and purplish -cray. Sizr 1 80x1.32. 



61. BOSS'S GULL. ItJtntlwltMiin rn.tra Maggil. Geog. Dist. Arctic regions; 

 Point Barrow, Alaska; Melville Peninsula; Englanu, Faroes, Heligoland, etc. 



This species was first discovered north of British America. A specimen was 

 taken by M n near St. Michaels, Norton Sound, on October 10, 1879. Three 



specimens were brought home by the naturalist of the ill-fated Jeannette. During 



y's adventurous journey over the ice north of Spitzbergen, it was seen several 



