GULLS 



(50) SIBERIAN GULL 

 afiinis), strays to Greenland 



(51) 



(Larus 



Larus argentatus Pont. 



(L^t., silvery). 



HERRING GULL. Ad. in summer 



— Plumage and primaries as shown. 

 In winter the head and neck are 

 streaked with gray. hn. — Very va- 

 riable. Head, neck and under parts 

 more or less streaked and mottled; 

 back and wings brownish, with 

 lighter edging of the feathers; pri- 

 maries and tail blackish. L., 24.00; 

 Ex., 55.00; W., 17.50; B., 2.40. Nest 



— Of moss and grass, on the ground; 

 three olive-gray eggs, spotted with 

 blackish, 2.80 x 1.75. 



Range — Breeds from Me., Wis., 

 and B. C., northward. Winters from 

 Me., the Great Lakes and B. C, 

 southward. 



From September until May gulls may be seen in numbers 

 all along our coast and on open rivers and lakes. A flock 

 of gulls coursing over a lake, sweeping about docks in har- 

 bors or following in the wake of vessels is a beautiful and 

 inspiring sight; but they are useful as well as ornamental. 

 They perform for the surface of the waters the same services 

 that are rendered on land by vultures and under water by 

 various species of crabs, those of scavengers. Thus their 



