BIRDS 01 



the following which occurs in the transactions of the Ottawa 

 Field Naturalist Club for 1881. " On this excursion, which was 

 held about the 2ist of May, we succeeded in discovering on one 

 of the many small lakes near the Cave, a nest of the common 

 Gull (Larus argentatus) but we were unfortunately too late, as 

 not only were the eggs hatched, but the young had already left 

 the nest ; from this fact it is probable that, with this species, the 

 period of incubation is very early in the season. The nest, which 

 was very shallow, was built almost altogether of dried moss, and 

 was placed on the top of a small rock which stood about a foot 

 and a half out of the water towards one end of the lake." 



J7. LARUS DELAWARENSIS ORD. 54. 

 Ring-billed Gull. 



Adult plumage precisely like that of the Herring Gull, and its changes 

 substantially the same ; bill greenish-yellow, encircled with a black band near 

 the end, usually complete, sometimes defective, the tip and most of the cut- 

 ting edges of the bill yellow ; in high condition, the angle of the mouth and 

 and a small spot bsside the black, red ; feet olivaceous, obscured with dusky 

 or bluish, and partly yellow ; the webs bright chrome. Notably smaller than 

 argentatus; length usually 18-20 inches; extent, about 48; wing, about 15; 

 bill, under 2, and only about deep at the protuberance ; tarsus, about 2, 

 obviously longer than the middle toe. 



HAB. North America at large ; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico. 

 Eggs 4 ; dark cream color, blotched with purple, umber, and black. 



This is one of the common Gulls which frequent Lake 

 Ontario during the winter, whose numbers helpto make up the 

 vast crowd which is frequently seen assembled on the edge of 

 the ice at the western extremity of the Lake, or in Hamilton 

 Bay, near the canal. 



In all stages of plumage it bears a strong resemblance to the 

 Herring Gull, but the ring round the bill and its smaller size 

 serve as distinguishing marks. 



18. LARUS FRANKLINII Sw. & RICH. 59. 

 Franklin's Gull 



Adult male: Eyelids, neck, rump, tail and lower parts white, the latter 

 with the under-part of the wings, deeply tinged with rich rosy red; hood, 



38 



