THE BLACK-BACKED GULL. 543 



extent, 40.00." He reports it as common off the coast of 

 New England, where it is known as the " Black Hagdon." 

 As its breeding place is far to the north, it must be at least 

 a winter visitor off Nova Scotia. 



THE BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



Among the outer islands off Mahone Bay, I occasionally 

 saw the Great Black-backed Gull, or Saddle-back (Larus 

 marinus), flapping its immense wings most majestically just 

 above the water. I am credibly informed by old settlers 

 that this species used to breed quite commonly on the 

 islands off the coast of Nova Scotia years ago, and I pre- 

 sume a few breed still on the outer and less frequented 

 ones, as it does on one island, at least, in the Bay of Fundy. 

 Over 30.00 long, and some 65.00 in extent, the black- 

 ish slate-colored curtain contrasting strongly with the pure 

 white of the other parts of the body, this is a most strongly 

 characterized and magnificent bird, and is so wary that 

 it is difficult to come even within rifle-range of it. As is 

 the case with the Gulls generally, the head and neck are 

 streaked with dusky in winter. The ashy-gray young are 

 lighter than the young of the Herring Gull. The nest is 

 on the ground or on ledges of rock, pretty well piled up, 

 after the manner of Gulls. The bluish or brownish-drab 

 eggs, spotted and blotched with brown and neutral, are 

 some 2.97X2.25. 



The large and elegant Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus) , 

 about the same size as the former, and occasionally found 

 in New England in winter, is no doubt on the coast of the 

 province at that time. Its chaste figure of pure white, even 

 including the primaries, barely relieved by the light pearly- 

 blue mantle, is readily distinguished. The young are 

 streaked and spotted with ashy-brown. 



