238 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



Mr. Godman mentions finding this species common everywliere about the sea-coast 

 and mountain-lakes of the Azores. It remains there throughout the year, but appears 

 to be more abundant in tlie 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. Mr. Godman 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 IVIr. Saunders, it is abundant in winter on the coast of Spain, especially outside 

 of the Straits of Gibraltar. 



In North America 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 Bay, on the coast of Maine, to Labrador. On the interior lakes it breeds 

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

 Although Professor Reinhardt regards it as a rare, and even accidental, species in 

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

 flying about in abundance at Frederikshaab. 



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

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

 ther north. Mr. Bernard Ross procured it on the Mackenzie River ; and Mr. MacFar- 

 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 has observed it on Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Michi- 

 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 the spring, arriving, as soon as the ice begins to loosen, 

 along the shores, in the latter part of March. The full-plumaged old birds come first, 

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

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

 they are not so abundant as in the spring. 



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

 Kennicott ; at Fort Simpson by Mr, B. R. Ross ; at Fort Rae by Mr. Clarke ; on Big 

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

 son River, in June, 1863, by Mr. MacFarlane ; also at Horton River and at Fort 

 Anderson by the same ; and at Fort Simpson by Rev. Dr. Kirkby. 



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

 Rio Grande, states that this Gull during the winter inhabits the marshes on the east- 

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

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



The Herring Gull has been given by Mr. Bischoff as occurring at Plover Bay, in 

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

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

 having been Larus cachinnmis, which replaces this bii'd on the Pacific coast. Only a 

 single individual is recorded from British Columbia. 



On Long Island this bird is common in the winter 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 to 

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

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



