IX 



HERRING GULL 

 51. LOTUS argentatus 



The Herring Gull is the largest and most widely dis- 

 tributed of the Gulls ; it is twenty-four inches long. With 

 its mantle of deep pearl gray or gull blue, its breast and 

 the rest of its body pure white, and its black-tipped 

 wings, this bird is the most beautiful of its family. Ow- 

 ing to its wide distribution and semi-domestic traits it 

 is also the best known of the Gulls. Its breeding range 

 extends over a large area of the United States and as 

 far north as portions of Alaska and British Columbia. 

 Very few are the seaside and lakeshore resorts that do 

 not have a flock of these big Gulls frequenting their 

 water fronts. (Fig. 12.) They become very tame and 

 may be seen perched on the piling and sand spits, pa- 

 tiently waiting for the cooks on the anchored boats to 

 toss overboard the crumbs and scraps from the tables. 

 Herring Gulls are not so numerous on the Pacific as on 

 the Atlantic coast. 



The nest is beautiful and both birds take active 

 part in nest-building. It is made of miscellaneous ma- 

 terial, including grass, weeds, chips of wood and feathers, 

 and is built on the ground from choice, but often in trees. 



A last year's nest is sometimes utilized by repairing 

 it. Like many land birds, Gulls shape the nest by mould- 

 ing it to fit the builder's breast. After the nest is com- 

 pleted, or even at times when the birds are incubating, 

 they have a habit of carrying around and collecting build- 

 ing material. Whether this is a prolonged building in- 

 stinct or a permanent habit, naturalists have been unable 

 to decide. 



These birds are persistent fighters among them- 

 selves. Often, during an encounter, they will suddenly 

 cease their combat and in an indifferent manner peck 

 at any object near by, or pick up pieces of grass or sticks. 



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