THE CALIFORNIA GULL. 6^3 



The Pomarine Jjeger {Stercorarius pomatorTi in us) inhabits the seas and coasts of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, and is also found in the interior of North America. It is named Gull- 

 hunter in some places. 



The Parasitic Jaeger is found in much the same localities as the preceding. It has the 

 reputation of being a terror to the Gulls. Though much like the Gulls, it has more of a look 

 of predacious birds, and probably has some of the latters' disposition. The Gulls are usually 

 rather stupid. It gets its living like the hawks, by forcing the Gulls to disgorge. Buffon's 

 Jaeger, called also Long-tailed Jaeger, is smaller, with two middle tail-feathers, longer than the 

 others. Its range is the same as the preceding. Richardson's Jaeger is another American 

 species. It is rare on the coast below Massachusetts. The flight of the Jaegers is extremely 

 rapid, and they seem adapted to a predaceous method of pursuing their prey. 



The common Gull is too familiar to need much description, as it is well known to all who 

 have visited the sea-shore, or the mouth of any of our larger rivers. It is a bold bird, caring 

 little for man, and even following a steamer so closely that the gleam of its eyes can be plainly 

 seen. It can easily be tamed, and is a rather useful bird in a garden, destroying vermin of 

 various kinds, and occasionally killing and eating any small bird that may incautiously venture 

 within reach of the strong bill. Cheese seems to be an acknowledged dainty with these birds, 

 which have often been known to contract so great an affection for the place of their captivity as 

 as to return to it voluntarily, and even to introduce a mate to the well-remembered hospitalities. 



The Great Black-backed Gull {Larus marinus) is a very fine bird, not very plentiful 

 on northern coasts, but spread over the greater part of the shores of northern Europe. 



This bird prefers low-lying and marshy lands, and is popularly known under the name of 

 the Cob. It is very plentiful on the shores of Sweden and Norway, and on some of the islands of 

 Shetland and Orkney it breeds in abundance, the eggs being highly valued on account of their 

 rich flavor and their large size. It is the custom in those localities to lay in a stock of these 

 eggs, and to take two sets in succession, leaving the third for the bird to hatch. Mr. Hewitson 

 mentions that niton an island of barely half an acre in extent, sixty dozen eggs were secured. 



The pretty Kittiwake Gull breeds upon the rocky portions of northern coasts. Owing 

 to the diversity of its plumage according to the age, the Kittiwake has been called by several 

 names ; "Tarrock" being the best known and belonging to the bird while young. The name 

 of Kittiwake is given in allusion to its cry, which bears some resemblance to that word rather 

 slowly pronounced. 



There are many other species of Gulls, too numerous to be described. Among these we 

 may notice the Little Gull {Larus minutus), remarkable for its jetty -black head and neck 

 and its small size, its length being little more than ten inches; the Herring, or Silvery 

 Gull {Larus argentatus), a fine species, about two feet in length, with a pure white head and 

 neck, and a soft gray back, and jetty -black primaries, with a spot or two of white at the tips ; 

 and the Ivory Gull {PagopTiila eburnea), so called on account of the pure white of its summer 

 plumage. This is a most beautiful northern species, not often seen as far south as New 

 England. Length, fourteen inches. 



The Kittiwake inhabits both hemispheres in the northern regions, reaching New England 

 in winter. Length, eighteen inches. A Pacific Kittiwake is enumerated, and a Red-legged 

 Kittiwake, which inhabits the North Pacific. 



The Glaucous Gull, or Burgomaster, is circumpolar in hab//"f, but reaches Long Island in 

 winter. It is the largest of its tribe. The White-winged Gull has the same range as the 

 preceding. It is a complete counterpart of it, excepting in size. Length, twenty-four inches. 



The Glaucous-winged Gull is an inhabitant of the Pacific coast. Length, twenty-seven inches. 



This great Gull inhabits the Atlantic coast as far south as Long Island in winter, and, 

 according to Audubon, to Florida. The Western Gull, Siberian Gull, Herring (lull, and two 

 other species of Herring Gull are mentioned as North American species. 



The California Gull is found on the Pacific coast. The Ring-billed Gull and Short-billed 



