HERRING GULL 



The back and wings pearl gray; wings tipped with black; 

 under parts white; bill yellow; legs and feet flesh color. 

 Length, twenty-four inches. The immature birds are mixed 

 brownish-gray and dull white; wings dusky white; tail gray; 

 bill black. They require about four years to come to the full 

 plumage of the parent birds. 



The nest, located on the ground or bare rocks along the 

 shores of lakes and rivers, is composed of grass, sea weed, 

 moss and sticks. It is loosely made and generally placed in an 

 exposed position. Eggs, three, greenish-buff scrawled with 

 brown, 2.85 x 1.95 inches. 



This Gull is common along the Atlantic coast wintering 

 as far north as New York. It also frequents inland waters, 

 being abundant on the Great Lakes and along Niagara River 

 in both summer and winter. If undisturbed,' it enters harbors 

 and swims about among the shipping in search of food. It 

 devours the refuse thrown overboard from vessels and fre- 

 quently follows them long distances to gain food. It also eats 

 fish, plunging into the water to capture them. 



Some people use the eggs of these Gulls for food and rob 

 their nests repeatedly for that purpose. Jf robbed for several 

 years in succession, the birds desert their usual nesting places 

 and build their nests in trees, thus adapting their habits to 

 necessity. 



While they often soar to great heights, they usually fly low 

 and frequently alight on the water. When resting on the waves 

 they may be heard to utter a loud che-ah which is sometimes 

 followed by a hoarse hunk, hunk. 



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