158 GULLS 
two-thirds of the web below the black mark white (Fig. 78, a); second 
primary similar, but second white mark is a round spot on inner web and 
black occupies a greater space near tip, but does not continue so far down 
on feather; third to sixth primaries tipped with white, which is succeeded 
by a gradually diminishing black band which extends farther down on the 
outer web of the feather than on the inner; rest of plumage pure white. 
Ads. in winter —Similar, but with head and neck streaked and spotted with 
grayish. Im.—Upperparts ashy fuscous; head and nape more or less 
streaked with pale buffy; back and wings margined or irregularly marked 
with same color; primaries brownish black; tail the same, sometimes tipped 
or margined with buffy; underparts ashy fuscous, sometimes lightly barred 
or streaked. L., 24:00; W., 17°50; T., 7°50; B., 2°30 
Range.—N. Hemisphere. In Am. breeds from s. cen. Alaska, Melville 
Island, s. Ellesmere Land, and Cumberland Sound s. to s. B. C., s. Alberta, 
n. N. D., cen. Wisc., s. Ont., n. N. Y., and Maine, and in Europe s. to n. 
France and e. to White Sea; winters from s. B. C.s. to L. Calif., and w. 
Mex., and from Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes s. to the 
Bahamas, Cuba, Yucatan, and coast of Tex., and, in Europe, to Mediter- 
ranean and Caspian Seas. 
Washington, common W. V., Oct.-May 10. Long Island abundant W. V., 
Oct.—Apl., a few summer. Ossining, common T. V., Sept. 2I-May 9; com- 
mon W. V. when river is open. Cambridge, abundant W. V., Oct. 15-May 
8. N. Ohio, common P. R. on Lake Erie. Glen Ellyn, T. V. chiefly spring, 
occasional W. V., Dec. 4-Apl. 7. SE. Minn., occasional in summer, Apl. 1. 
Nest, of grasses, moss, seaweed, etc., on the ground, but, where the 
birds have been persistently robbed, it is more compactly built and placed 
in trees sometimes fifty feet or more from the ground. Eggs, 2—3, grayish 
olive-brown, rarely whitish, spotted, blotched, and scrawled with distinct 
and obscure chocolate markings, 2°85 x 1°90. Date, Midriff Lake, N. Y., 
May 3; Isle Royal, Mich., May 20. 
This species is by far the most abundant winter Gull along the 
coasts of the Middle and Southern States. Unlike the more pelagic 
species, it frequents our rivers and harbors, feeding about piers and 
wharves, and near the cities where as a scavenger it is of the highest 
value. Sometimes one may see them ‘bedded’ in flocks on the water 
where they alight to rest. It is generally this species which follows in 
the wake of our coastwise vessels, sailing astern, when the wind is from 
ahead, without the slightest perceptible movement of the wings. 
1902. Mackay, G. H., Auk, IX, 221-228.—1908. DutcHmr, W. and 
Batty, W. L., Auk, XX, 417-431 (nesting).—1900. CHapman, F. M., 
Bird-Lore, II, 10, 11 (value as scavengers). 
54, Larus delawarensis Ord. RING-BILLED GULL. Ads. in summer. 
Back and wings pearl-gray; first primary black, with a white spot near 
tip, base of inner half of inner web pearl-gray (Fig. 78, 6); second primary 
black, basal half of inner web pearl-gray; on the third to sixth primaries 
the black decreases rapidly, and each one is tipped with white; rest of plu- 
mage pure white; bill greenish yellow witha black band in front of the nostril. 
Ads. in winter.—Similar to above, but head and nape streaked with grayish. 
Im.— Upperparts varying from ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with 
whitish, to pearl-gray, the feathers more or less mottled, spotted, or, on head 
and neck, streaked with ashy fuscous; outer primaries black, tail varying 
from pearl-gray, more or less mottled with blackish, to white, and crossed 
near end by a wide band of black; basal half of bill yellowish, end black. 
L., 18°50; W., 14°00; T., 6°00; B., 1°60. 
Range.—N. America. Breeds from s. B. C., Great Slave Lake, s. Kee- 
watin, and s. Ungava s. to s. Ore., s. Colo., n. N. D., cen. Wisc., cen. Ont., 
