THE HERRING GULL. 423 



Thva^a. {Turdus swainsoni alicicB), Coues says: — "Similar, 

 but without any buffy tint about the head, nor yellowish ring 

 around the eye ; averaging a trifle larger, with longer, slen- 

 derer bilL Much the same distribution, but breeds further 

 north. Nest and eggs similar." It is sometimes called the 

 Gray-cheeked Thrush. 



THE HERRING GULL. 



The most characteristic bird of Georgian Bay is the Her- 

 ring Gull (Larus argentatus). In Collingwood harbor it 

 sails among the masts of schooners and the smoke-stacks 

 of steamers almost as fearlessly as if no one were present, 

 seeming to understand that that city has a special law for 

 its safety. Any bit of offal is eagerly gobbled up, and the 

 large quantities of refuse-matter cast overboard by the fish- 

 ermen are readily devoured by these elegant scavengers. If 

 a steamboat starts out, numbers follow in her wake, to take 

 advantage of anything edible which is thrown into the water; 

 and until the distant port is reached, scarcely a minute are 

 they out of sight. One may amuse himself by the hour 

 throwing bits of cracker or meat overboard for them. Quite 

 a distance off they will detect a mere crumb on the surface, 

 and, screaming with delight, pick it up on the wing. Should 

 the cook throw overboard a dish of remnants, a considerable 

 number will alight on the water and take their repast at 

 their leisure. Should one discover a particularly large or 

 desirable morsel, he will seize it and rise to leave, pursued 

 by several of his eager squalling comrades. All along upon 

 the rocks and shoals they stand like snowy sentinels; here 

 and there they float lightly on the water; or they fly 

 low over the surface in search of prey, or soar majesti- 

 cally against the clear ether or the sombre cloud; the entire 

 snow-white figure of their under parts reminding one fore- 



