52 
Nesting. On ground, nest of sea weed or vegetable fragments. 
Distribution. Breeds on the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia northward to the high 
Arctic. Owing to advancing settlement nesting localities have at present been reduced to 
the more isolated situations. Is a more or less regular but rather sparse winter visitor 
upon lake Ontario, but rarely wanders farther inland along the Great Lakes. 
Economic Status. With similar feeding habits to those of the other 
Gulls, the superior size, strength, and numbers of the Black-backed Gull 
increase its powers for good or harm. The species is certainly not to be 
trusted in the vicinity of unprotected nests of other species, or even young 
birds, as both eggs and young are eagerly devoured when opportunity 
offers. To offset this, however, the opportunity to become an important 
pest 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. 
a 51. Herring Gull. FR.—LE GOBLAND ARGENTE. Larus argentatus. L, 24. Plate 
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 
the Jaeger. 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 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. 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 for the offal and 
congregate in large numbers about sewer outlets. They have also learned 
that ships are abundant providers of toothsome scraps. Fishing stations 
are great attractions to 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 and crabs 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 below, after which they descend and extract the savoury 
morsels from the broken case. In rough weather they congregate in numbers 
about foamy breakers off stormy points for the food that is brought to the 
