34 NESTS AND EGOS OF 



just deep enough to keep the eggs from rolling out. The nests are made on the 

 sand or any other bare spot on islands far out in the lake. The eggs are laid about 

 the middle of May. They vary from a bluish-White to a deep brownish-clay color, 

 spotted and blotched with dark brown, slate and blackish zigzag markings. Sizes 

 range from 2.50 to 2.70 long by 1.65 to 1.95 broad. 



54. RING-BILLED GTILL. Larus detawarensis Ord. Geog. Dist.— North 

 America at large; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico. 



This Gull inhabits the entire Continent of North America, and is on the whole, 

 the commonest species ooth coastwise and in the interior. It breeds in the United 

 States and far north, placing its nests on the ground .or on cliffs. Mr. Walter Raine 

 found this gull breeding abundantly on the islands of Shoal Lake, Manitoba, in the 

 latter part of June. Mr. Stebbins found this species and the Common Tern occupying 

 an island of about an acre in extent in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, in the first week 

 of June. The entire island was covered with eggs of the gulls and terns. Mr. 

 Stebbins says: "I don't suppose you could lay down a two-foot rule any where -with- 

 out each end of it striking a nest. It was common to find the terns and gulls breed- 

 ing side by side. Most of the gulls' nests were in the grass, while those of the terns 

 were in the sand. I did not find a gull's nest with more than three eggs, and a very 

 few with two; whereas, several hollows were found with as many as eighteen terns' 

 eggs in them, which had rolled together." Mr. Frazar observed a few colonies of 

 this species breeding in Labrador, nesting like other giills, and the nests never con- 

 tained more than three eggs. These have the usual variations in color to be found 

 in eggs of the terns — bluish-white to dark brown, spotted and blotched with brown 

 and lilac of various shades. Sizes from 2.75 to 2.80 long by 1.60 to 1.75 broad. 



55. SHOBT-BILLED GTJLL. Larus irachyrhynchus Rich. Geog. Dlst— 

 Arctic America and Pacific coast to Southern California. 



In the breeding season the Short-billed Gull occurs in the northern regions of 

 North America. It has been found nesting on the ground in the small lakes in the 

 vicinity of Port Anderson, and in the Mackenzie River Valley. Breeds in great 

 abundance at the mouth of the Yukon, where Mr. Dall obtained large numbers of 

 its eggs. It has also been observed nesting along the streams in the Barren Grounds 

 of the Arctic regions. Its nest is made of hay or wiry grass, and is sometimes placed 

 on stumps and in trees. The eggs are usually three in nupiber; greenish or olive 

 brown, with various markings, but chiefly small spots of reddish-umber. Sizes vary 

 frcta 2.00 to 2.35 long by 1.45 to 1.70 broad. 



56. MEW GULL, Larus eanus Linn. Geog. Dist. — Europe and Asia; acci- 

 dent8<! in Labrador. 



This is the Sea-mew or Sea-mall of Europe. In GreELt Britain it breeds more or 

 less abundantly along the entire coast, and is especially' common on some of the 

 smaller islands in the Hebrides; on the north coast of Scotland it is found on the 

 Orkney and Shetland Islands. It breeds on inland lakes as well as on the sea-coast, 

 building its' nest on the grassy summits of precipitous rocks near the sea or on 

 moorland locks far inland, and even on high mountain ranges. It is abundant on 

 the coast and on the fresh-water lakes of Norway. A common species and breeds 

 in nearly all parts of Central and Northern Russia. Abundant on the Prussian coast 

 and on the northern coast of France. The nests are made of grass and vegetable 

 substances. The usual number of eggs is three; yellowish-brown, olive-brown, and 

 whitish to greenish-gray, irregularly marked with dark brown and purplish gray. 

 The size varies from 2.08 to 2.25 long by 1.40 to 1.58 broad. 



