238 



LONG-Wi:^GED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



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Mr. Godman mentions finding this si)oi'i«'3 common everywhere about the sea-coast 

 and mountain-lakes of the Azores. It remains there throughout the year, but api^'ars 

 to be more abundant in the summer than in the winter. It breeds about the coast, 

 and particularly on a small island near the southwest point of Fayal, which in June 

 is covered with its nests, ilr. Godmau also mentions finding this Gull the most com- 

 mon of its family about Madeira, and in all the islands of the Canary group. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Saunders, it is abundant in winter on the coast of Spain, especially outside 

 of the Straits of Gibraltar. 



In North Anu'riea this Gull is found throughout nearly its whole extent, being 

 abundant on the Atlantic side during the winter, and in the summer breeding from 

 Frenchman's l>ay, on the coast of Elaine, to Labrador. On tho interior lakes it breeds 

 from Superior to Slave, and northward of these almost or cpiite to the Arctic shores. 

 Although I'rofessor lieinhardt regards it as a rare, and even accidental, species in 

 Greenlaiul, it is mentioned by Dr. Walker, of tho "Fox," as having been seen by him 

 flying about in abundance at Frederikshaab. 



Captain Wakiston received an example of this bird taken at York Factory; and 

 Mr. Murray makes record of others received from Severn House, which is still fiii- 

 ther north. Mr. Bernard Eoss ])rocured it on the Mackenzie liiver ; and Mr. MacFav- 

 lane found it breeding on the Arctic coast between the Mackenzie and the Anderson 

 rivers. 



J. Elliot Cabot found it breeding on the shores and among the islands of Lake 

 Superior; and Mr. Giraud lias observed it on Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Miclii- 

 gan, as well as on the larger streams of the interior. It is more or less abundant on 

 all our inland lakes and rivers during its periods of migration. In Southern Wis- 

 consin it is quite common in tho spring, arriving, as soon as the ice begins to loosen, 

 along the shores, in the latter part of IVIarch. The full-plumagi'd old birds come first, 

 and the immature ones — which .appear to surpass the mature in muuber — arrive 

 later, some not appearing until the first of June. None remain to breed. In i'all 

 they are not so abundant as in the spring. 



This species was found breeding in great numbers at Fort Resolution by Mr. 

 Keimicott ; at Fort Simpson by Mr. B. R. Ross ; at Fort Rae by Mv, Clarke ; on ]'>ij,' 

 Island by Mr. Reid; at Lake Winnipeg by Mr. Gunn ; on islands in the Lower Ander- 

 son River, in June, 18G3, by Mr. MacF.arlane ; also at Horton River and at Foit 

 Anderson by the same ; and at Fort Simjison by Rev. Dr. Kirk by. 



Dr. Berlandier, of ]Matamoras, in his manuscript Notes of the Birds of the Lower 

 Rio Grande, states that this (}ull during the winter inhabits the marshes on the east- 

 ern coast of Mexico, but that it is seldom found in the swampy localities produceil 

 by the overflowing of the Rio Bravo del Norte in the vicinity of Matamoras. 



The Herring Gull has Ix'en given by Mr. Bischoff as occurring at Mover Bay, in 

 Eastern Siberia; by Mr. Bannister at St. ]\lichael's; and is said by Mr. Dall to have 

 been found on the Upper Yukon. But this last statement is an error, the species fonml 

 having been Lurus vuchinnans, which replaces this bii'd on the Pacific coast. Oidy a 

 single individual is recorded from Britisli Columbia. 



On Long Island this bird is common in the mnter months from' November to 

 March, and resorts at low water, with the other species, to the bars and shoals, 

 congregating in such large numbers as to line the shore for a considerable distance. 

 At the influx of the tide it passes most of its time in the air, flying around in wide 

 circles, and at times rising to a very great height. At other times it is observed tn 

 follow the shoals of fry, on which it depends for the greater portirin of its support. 

 It is incapable of diving, and can only secure its prey when this is near the surface 



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