484 HERRING GULL. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on rocky cliffs, composed of sticks, sea-weeds etc. Eggs, three or four in number, oval in form, varying 

 from bluish-white to deep yellowish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown and lilac of varying shades. 

 Dimensions from 2'20x2'95 to 2'30 x 3-00. 



HABITS. 



The Great Black-backed Gulls are quite common along our northern coast, becoming 

 rare, however, to the southward, but occur quite to Florida. Of all shy birds, these large 

 Gulls are the shyest, it being difficult to walk within rifle range, especially of mature 

 birds. They are fond of haunting sand-bars that are left exposed by the falling tide, .but 

 will rise at high water to fish. These Gulls, like many other species, are fond of the vari- 

 ous species of echinoderms, or sea urchins, as well as mollusks, and in order to break them 

 open, will fly with their booty to a great height, then let it fall upon the rocks below. The 

 notes of the Great Black-backs are not only harsh but loud, and are uttered most frequent- 

 ly, during storms, when their wild cries, coming to the ear amid the sounds of shrieking 

 winds and dashing breakers, produce a singularly weird effect, though in perfect keeping 

 with the fury of the elements. The southernmost breeding grounds of the Black-backs, is 

 a little, rocky island in the Bay of Fundy, the top of which is so high as to be almost in- 

 accessible. Perce Rock, in Gaspe Basin, is another resort for them, but I do not know 

 of any more this side of Labrador. 



LAKXJS ABGENTATUS. 



Herring Gull. 

 Larus aryentatus Brunn., Orn. Bor.; 1764, 44. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP CH. Form, robust. Size, large. COLOR. Adult. Back and entire wings, light pearly blue. Primaries, tipped 

 with white which ispreceded and banded with black. Secondaries and tertiaries also tipped with white. Iris, yellowish- 

 white, bill, yellow, with a vermilion spot near tip of under mandible, and feet, pinkish. Inwinler. Similar but the head 

 and neck are streaked with dusky. Young, dark ashy-brown throughout, more or less mottled with white. Bill, black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known in the adult stage by the large .size and white tipped primaries which are black banded, and young by the dark 

 colors. Distributed, in summer, from Massachusetts, northward. Winters from Maine to Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens. Length, 24'25; stretch, 56'50; wing, 17'00; tail, 6'50; bill, 2'38; tarsus, S'13. 

 Longest specimen, 26'00; greatest extent of wing, 59'CO; longest wing, 18'OC; tail, 7'00; bill, 2'75; tarsus, 2'25 Shortest 

 specimen, 22 50; smallest extent of wing, 54'00; shortest wing, lfi'00; tail, 6'00; bill, 2'05; tarsus, 2'05. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, plnced on the ground, on rocky cliffs, and in trees, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Eggs, three or four in 

 number, oval in form, varying from bluish-white to deep yellowish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with brown and 

 lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from P80 x 2'70 to 2'05 x2'9l). 



HABITS. 



The Herring Gulls are the most abundant of all the genus on our shores, frequenting 

 every harbor and river mouth along -the entire coast, and gathering by thousands on the 

 sand-bars to rest, or during storms, resorting to the flats. Their notes are not quite as 

 harsh as those of the preceding species, but resemble them somewhat. Herring Gulls are 

 very shy, and even when breeding, take good care to keep out of gun shot, although they 

 display considerable solicitude for the safety of their eggs. It is probable that these birds 

 formerly nested on the coast of Massachusetts, north of Cape Ann, but now they do not 

 breed nearer than the coast of Maine. The eggs are deposited about the first of June, and 

 the nests are placed on rocky cliffs, in marshes, or in trees. The habit of building their 



