KEY TO THE WATER lilRDS OF FLORIDA. I9I 



Family LARID.E. Gulls and Terns. 



Subfamily LARIN.^. Gulls. 



Genus LARUS Linn. 



LARU5 MARINUS Linn. 

 Great Black=backed Gull. 



Adult ill suiniiici- : Whole back dark slate color ; outer primaries black, with tips and termi- 

 nal spots of white: head and under parts white. 



Adult in winter : Head and neck streaked with gray. Immature birds are mottled dusky and 

 buff: head and neck streaked: tail with narrow subterminal band ; a very large gull. 



Length. 29: Wing. 18: Tail. 8: Tarsus. 2.70: Bilk 2.40. 



Coast of North America .south to South CaroHua : accidental in Florida. 

 Breeds from Northern ]Maine northward. The nest is, built on the i^round ; 

 the eggs are usually two, pale brown, marked with chocolate brown. 



A specimen of this i^iill w as shot near St. Augustine during the winter 

 of 1894-5. 



