53 



offers. To offset this, however, the opportunity to become troublesome 

 is small except in a few localities, as on the Labrador coast where the 

 Black-back breeds abundantly in close proximity to great numbers of 

 Eiders and other sea-birds. The damage it does on the Labrador coast, 

 however, is small compared with the more serious and wanton waste of 

 some of the fishermen. 



51. Herring Gull. FE. LE GOTLAND ARGENTE. Larus argentatus. L, 24. Plate 



II A. 



Distinctions. Size and general coloration are generally sufficient to distinguish the 

 Herring Gull from all other Canadian species, but as size alone is seldom a sufficiently 

 reliable criterion when the contrasted species are not together for comparison, the following 

 points will assist in accurate determination. 



The juvenile Herring Gull is the darkest of the family, approaching the dark-phased 

 Jaegers closely in this respect, but the bill shape and Gull habits will prevent confusion with 

 them. In the adult, the black wing-tips serve to distinguish it from any of the white- 

 winged Gulls and the small white terminal spots from the Kittiwake. The lack of a dark 

 transverse bar on the bill distinguishes it from the adult Ring-bill. However, the juvenile 

 Herring Gull at one stage, as the bill is turning from black to the yellow of maturity, shows 

 a very similar mark and comparative size is then about the only distinguishing point of 

 recognition. 



Field Marks. Size and the colour marks above given are the best field guides. It is 

 often very difficult, sometimes impossible, to separate the Herring and the Ring-bill in 

 life when immature birds of either species are seen separately. 



Nesting. On the ground, or on rocky ledges or the flat tops of large isolated rocks, in 

 nests of seaweed or waste vegetable matter. 



Distribution. Found practically all over Canada, and common in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the larger bodies of water either fresh or salt. Breeds either generally 

 or locally in all but the more southern sections of Canada. 



The Herring Gull is the commonest of our Gulls. It is a wanderer and 

 often seen on the smallest of our lakes, even at a considerable distance from 

 its nesting grounds. The Gulls that remain on the lower Great Lakes 

 through the summer are immatures or non-breeding birds. In winter the 

 species remains upon the larger waters until they are frozen over and 

 often throughout the entire season, beating over the open water or 

 perched on the floating ice. The Gulls haunt harbours and congregate 

 in large numbers about sewer outlets for the floating offal. They have also 

 learned that ships are abundant providers of toothsome scraps. Fishing 

 stations have great attractions for them and there is almost certain to be 

 a large flock in attendance about the cleaning tables on the shore. At 

 the seashore, shell-fish are eagerly sought for at low tide and the Gulls have 

 learned the trick of carrying their hard-shelled prey into the air and 

 dropping it upon the rocks, after which they descend and extract 

 the savoury morsels from the broken case. In rough weather they 

 congregate about foamy breakers off stormy points for the food that is 

 brought to the surface. Occasionally they follow the immense schools 

 of small fish that periodically visit our shores, and take toll of the inex- 

 haustible supply. 



Economic Status. It will be seen from the above summary of the 

 Herring Gulls' food habits that as scavengers they are important and 

 should be protected. 



