42 BIRDS 



Some of them are large and elaborately made, while others 

 are merely shallow depressions with a slight lining. Three 

 eggs are usually laid, which vary from bluish-white to a 

 deep yellowish brown, spotted and blotched with brown of 

 different shades. In many cases where the herring gull has 

 suffered persecution it has been known to depart from its 

 usual habit of nesting on the open sea shore. 



It is a pleasure to watch a flock of gulls riding buoyantly 

 upon the water. They do not dive, as many suppose, but 

 only immerse the head and neck. They are omnivorous and 

 greedy eaters, " scavengers of the beach, and in the harbors 

 to be seen boldly alighting upon the masts and flying about 

 the vessels, picking up the refuse matter as soon as it is 

 cast overboard." 



RING-BILLED GULL 



The Ring-Billed Gull ranges throughout North Amer- 

 ica, being more common in the interior. 



Of all gulls, not excepting the herring, this bird is the 

 commonest on the inland waters. The herring is more 

 abundant on the Atlantic. The southern portion of the 

 Great Lakes and the JNIississippi River from jNIinnesota 

 southward to St. Louis are the winter haunts of the ring- 

 billed gull. Thej' are more commonly fomid along rivers 

 than formerly, soaring in great numbers about refuse which 

 may be found even in remote sections, sometimes fifteen to 

 twent}' miles from any large body of water. 



During extremely cold winters the lagoons in our public 

 parks sometimes freeze to the bottom; at the time of the 

 spring thaw these birds feed on the frozen fish which are 



