BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. iis 
which do not leave us until late in October. While here they 
spend much of the time in considerable flocks on the middle of 
the ordinary sized lakes, except during the prevalence of high 
winds, when they are seen almost constantly on the wing. Dr. 
Hvoslef reports it as having about the same local history in 
Fillmore county, and Mr. P. H. Clague, of Herman, Grant 
county, has long noticed them on the lakes in the vicinity of 
that place. 
The nest is said to consist of dried grass, lichens, moss, 
small sticks, &c., in profusion, deeply depressed in the center, 
and contains three olivaceous drab eggs, varying to much 
lighter shades, blotched and spattered with dark to light brown 
and faint purple. They vary much in size and measurements, 
averaging about 2.50 by 2 inches. Many of them are quite in- 
distinguishable from those of the other species of the same 
genus. 
The Herring Gull is a magnificent bird under any circum- 
stances, but especially when leisurely floating upon the wing, 
turning his head from side to side in his unremitting vigilance 
to secure his food. As with the entire family, the telescopic 
vision never fails to spy instantly the merest fragment within 
possible range, for which it plunges with unerring aim. 
In both migrations, embracing a considerable period in the 
autumn, they are abundant in numbers and flocks, remaining 
many times until completely frozen out of the lakes and streams 
that supply them their special food. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Head, neck, under parts, rump, and tail pure white; back 
and wings light pearl-blue; first six primaries marked towards 
their ends with black, which begins on the first about 
half its length from the end, and is rapidly lessened on the 
others until it becomes only a subterminal bar on the sixth; 
primaries all tipped with white; on the first quill it is about an 
inch and a half in extent, crossed near the end by a black bar, 
on the second quill there is a round white spot on the inner 
web near the end; secondaries and tertiaries broadly ending 
with white; bill bright yellow, with an orange spot near the 
end of the lower mandible; legs and feet flesh color; iris 
white. (Young, mottled with light grayish-brown and dull 
white; primaries and bill brownish-black, latter yellowish at 
base. ) 
Length, 23; wing, 18; bill, 23; tarsus, 23. 
