38 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



at her, all three Mergansers took flight. They easily distanced the gull, who in 

 the chase ejected a small fish and soon gave up the pursuit. Spite or play seemed 

 to be the motive in this little drama. 



Several observers^ have called attention to the fact that gulls in flight some- 

 times bring their feet and tarsi from the usual position under the tail to the breast, 

 where they are generally tucked away under the feathers. It is supposed to be 

 resorted to in winter for warmth, but I have seen it rarely in midsummer. I have 

 observed the habit in both adults and young and also in the Glaucous and the 

 Great Black-backed Gulls. Occasionally a bird will fly with one foot concealed in 

 front and one in plain sight under the tail behind. Sometimes, but rarely, the 

 feet are carried in plain sight in front. I once saw a gull withdraw a foot from 

 the front, where both were previously in sight, and stretch it out behind. 



Like the Great Black-backed Gull, the Herring Gull has a loud, bugling chal- 

 lenge-call or nuptial song and this may frequently be heard at Ipswich in April. 

 I have written down the challenge-call thus : wha wha wha wha-ee-whee whee whee. 

 The bird begins with its bill almost touching the sand and gradually swings the 

 head up so that the cries end with the bill pointing nearly vertically upward. 

 Their cries are numerous and varied. At times they so closely resemble the 

 rattling of blocks that one looks about for a schooner hoisting sail. These rattles 

 sometimes suggest large blocks, others small squeaking blocks. There are many 

 squeaking and hissing whistling notes, deep car cars, high-pitched kee kees, loud 

 cow cows and co-ah co-ahs, and numerous and varied conversational notes. 

 Some of their notes resemble those of the Great Black-backed Gull so closely that 

 I am unable to distinguish them. 



21 [54] Larus delawarensis Ord. 



Ring-billed Gull. 



Not uncommon autumn transient visitor ; rare in winter. July 17 to Novem- 

 ber 17 (February 3) ; March i. 



The February record was made at Nahant, in 1909, by Mrs. Edmund 

 Bridge f the March i record in the same year and place by Mr. H. W. Wright. 

 I have seen the bird at Moon Island, Boston Harbor, in February. Besides a 

 harsh cry which is unlike that of the Herring Gull, they have numerous other 

 cries which closely resemble those of this gull. Specimens obtained by me on 



1 See Townsend, C. W. Auk, vol. 26, p. no, 1909. 



2 Bridge, Lidian E. Bird-Lore, vol. 12, p. 191, 1910. 



