HERRING GULL. 



Larus argentatus smithsonianus. 



Char. Mantle deep pearl gray ; head, tail, and under parts white ; 

 outer wing-feathers mostly black, tipped with white ; bill yellow, with a 

 bar of red at the angle; legs and feet flesh color. Length about 24 

 inches. 



In winter the head and neck are streaked with gray. Immature birds 

 are mottled brownish gray and dull white; wings dusky; tail dusky or 

 gray, with a subterminal bar of dusky ; bill blackish. In younger speci- 

 mens the dark tints prevail, some being almost uniformly dusky brown. 

 They do not ac'quire full plumage for four or five years. 



Nest. Usually on a cliff, often on a beach or grassy island, some- 

 times in a tree or under shelter of a bush, — generally a slight affair, a 

 thin mat of loosely arranged grass or moss; though nests placed in 

 trees are bulky and compact. 



Eggs. 2-3 (usually 3); pale to dark buff, more or less tinged with 

 green, sometimes nearly olive drab ; marked with several shades of 

 brown and lavender; average size about 2.85 X i.9S- 



The Herring Gull is common to the milder as well as cold 

 countries of both continents. It is seen sometimes on the 



