RING-BILLED GULL. )Sf> 



domiciles in (he last named situation, is duo to the constant persecution to which the birds 

 arc subjected. Another peculiarity which is observable in the history of these Gulls, is that 

 they arc retreating from the coast to breed in the interior, where they are not as liable to 

 be molested. Some of these Gulls, mostly immature birds, linger about the northern coast 

 of Massachusetts all summer. 



LARUS DELAWARENSIS. 



Ring-billed QuU. 

 Larus De/awarensis Ord., Guth. (Jog., II; 1815, 319. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Back and entire wings, very light pearly-blue. Primaries, 

 very brnailly tipped with black, first quill broadly banded , second spotted and others, with secondaries and tertiaries, tipped 

 with white. Remainder of plumage, also white. Bill, greenish, crossed near tip with a band of dark-brown, iris, yellow, 

 and feet, greenish. In winter. Similar, but with head and neck spotei with dusky. .Young, ashy-brown throughout, 

 darkest above, mottled with lighter. Primaries, black. Tail, white with subterminal band of black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Kasily recognized by the ring around bill. Distributed, in summer, from Labrador and the Great Lakes, northward. 

 Winters f'ruiii Chesapeake Bay, southward. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 19'50; stretch, 49'00: wing, 14'53; tail, 5'50; bill, 

 1 02; tarsus, 2' 12. I, m.nest specimen, 20'00; greatest extent of win?, 59'2'J; longest wing, 15* Is?: tail, 6'00; bill, I "75; tar- 

 sus, 2 25. Shortest specimen, 19'00; smallest extent of wing, 48-00; shortest wing, H'OO; tail, 5'00; bill, I'M; tarsus, 2-00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND BUGS. 



Nests, placed en the ground or on clitfs, composed of sticks, etc. Eyys, three or four in number, oval in form, vary- 

 ing'from bluish-white to dark-brown in color, spotted and blotched with brown and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions 

 from 1 60x2-75 to I'75x2-80. 



HABITS. 



I found the Ring-billed Gulls more abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, during winter, 

 than I ever saw them elsewhere, but they occur on the east coast of Florida at this season, 

 and also further' north in autumn, though they are never very common in Massachusetts. 

 These Gulls which resemble the Laughing Gull in general habits, breed along the borders 

 of the Great Lakes, in Labrador, and northward. 



LARUS ATRICILLA. 



Laughing Gull. 

 Larus atrictlla LINN., Syst. Nat., I, 1766, 225. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si*. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. COLOR. Adu/l. Back and wings, slaty-blue, becoming black toward termi- 

 nal portion of primaries, which with secondaries are tipped with white. Remainder of plumage, white, strongly tinged 

 with rosy beneath. Iris and feet, brown, bill, dark purplish-lake. In winter, and Yiruny. Similar, but lacks the dark 

 head which is replaced by white mottled with ashy. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the dark head, rosy tint, and slaty-blue color above. Distributed, in summer, from Maine, southward, win- 

 ters in Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens. Length, 16-25; stretch, 4T50; wing, 12-50; tail, 5'45; bill, T62; tarsus, 1-88. 

 Longest specimen, 17-00; greatest extent of wing, 42'50; longest wing, 13-00; tail, 5-90; bill, 1 75; tarsus, 2-00. Shortest 

 specimen, 15'50; smallest extent of wing, 40'50; shortest wing, 12'00;itail, 5-00; bill, 1"52; tarsus, T75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND KCfJS. 



Nats, placed on the ground in >an'ly places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eyyi, three or four in number, oval in 

 form, varying froih bluish-white to ii.-hy-grecn in color, spotted and blotched with brown, umber, and lilac of varying 

 shades. DiOMUiODI from 1-52x2-00 <.<> Hi5x2'30. 



11. VISITS. 



The notes of Gulls are loud and startling, but those of the Laughing arc the most sin- 

 gular of them all, (or their cries, especially when the birds are excited, sound like loud 



