HEKKING-GULL 425 



Allied Species and Representative Forms. The Eastern 

 form of the Common Gull is larger and possesses a darker 

 mantle. L. delawarensis, also a larger bird, but with a 

 paler mantle and doubly-zoned beak, inhabits the North 

 American Continent, while L. brachyrhynchus is a smaller 

 bird, which is found from the Pacific to the Great Bear 

 Lake. It is noteworthy that an immature example of L. 

 canus was secured in Labrador on August 21st, 1860 

 (Saunders). 



HERRING-GULL. Larus argentatus (J. F. Gmelin). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, 'Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 

 59 ; Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. viii, pi. 602, fig. 1 ; 

 Lilford, * Coloured Figures,' vol. vi, pi. 23. 



The Herring-Gull, one of the large indigenous species, is 

 abundant on our coasts throughout the year. Even in the 

 breeding-season, when the adults have congregated about 

 the headlands and precipitous islands, hundreds of immature 

 birds 1 continue to frequent the ooze-flats and sandy beaches. 

 Indeed, during the late spring months, no Gull is more 

 familiar, or forms a more prominent feature on the sluggish 

 waters of the city-esfcuaries and quays than the large ' tweed- 

 plumed ' immature Herring-Gull Here, depending largely 

 for its sustenance on floating refuse, it appears quite in- 

 different to the shipping traffic of busy ports and harbours. 

 It may be seen perched on cargo-sheds, on chimney-pots, 

 and on roofs of factories, on the gunwales and riggings of 

 boats, and on the summits of monumental figures. 2 



It follows the cross-channel steamers and trawlers from 

 port to port in search of food, and shows little if any alarm, 



1 The Herring- Gull takes several years to reach maturity ; hence the 

 vast numbers of non-breeding birds, seen in various phases of plumage, 

 all the year round on low-lying as well as on precipitous coasts. 



2 Pinnacles of all kinds seem to offer a special attraction to the 

 Herring-Gull. Even in their breeding-haunts some may be seen alight- 

 ing on the summit of a great pointed rock, from which lofty eminence 

 they shower down, in ' Gull-language,' their menacing threats upon the 

 intruder. 



