32 WATER BIRDS 



Nest: A slight hollow ou ground, close to water; unlined and unpro- 

 tected. 

 t; 2 ; brown or olive, spotted with umber. Size 2.50 X 1-81. 



This is the smallest and handsomest of the loons. 

 It occurs in California from November to late in April, 

 being the last to arrive from the North and the first to 

 leave. In habits it is nearly identical with Gavia 

 imber, but is a more northern variety, being more abun- 

 dant in Canada than in the United States. It has been 

 found breeding in British Columbia fifty miles north of 

 Vancouver. Unlike the common loon, however, it fre- 

 quents the salt rather than the fresh water, and during 

 the winter months is common along the California coast 

 from Oregon to Mexico. It is the " gray loon " of the 

 fishermen, and its long, wild call as it rises against a 

 breeze and circles under a cloudy sky is always a signal 

 for the boats to seek shelter, for the storm will break 

 and not " blow over." 



44. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. — Larus glauccscevs. 



Family : The Gulls and Terns. 



Length: 25.75. 



Adults in Summer : Head, neck, lower parts, and tail uniform white ; 

 mantle dark pearl-gi'ay ; feet and legs black. 



Adults in Winter : Plumage similar to that of summer, but with head 

 and neck finely mottled or washed with sooty graj'. 



Young : Dark ash-gray, with mantle mixed with pearl-gray ; head and 

 neck indistinctly streaked with buffy ; under parts mixed with white. 



Downy Young : Dull whitish gray above, white below ; head, neck, and 

 upper parts marked irregularly with dark gray. 



Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of North America from Alaska 

 and Behring Sea ; south in winter to Southern Califoi-nia. 



Breeding Range : Islands of the Pacific coast from Washington north- 

 ward. 



