THE COMMON AMERICAN GULL. J 55 



On an island within a few miles of Eastport in Maine, I found these birds 

 breeding in great numbers in the beginning of May. Their nests were there 

 placed amid the scanty tufts of grass. On the Gannet Rock, early in June, 

 they were breeding on the shelves towards the summit, along with the Guil- 

 lemots, while the Kittiwakes had secured their nests far below. The dif- 

 ferent species kept apart, but yet exhibited no antipathy towards each other. 

 On the ISth of July, we discovered a low rocky island at the bottom of a 

 bay ten miles from the open sea, opposite the harbour of Little Macatina, on 

 the coast of Labrador, where we found upwards of two hundred nests, all 

 containing eggs with the chicks more or less advanced. The number of 

 eggs in each nest was three or four, more generally three. They resembled 

 those of the Great Black-backed Gull in form and colour, but were much 

 smaller, measuring two inches and three-quarters in length, by one and five 

 and a half eighths in their greatest diameter. There was considerable 

 diversity both in the tint of their ground colour, and in the number and size 

 of the spots on them, as is the case with the eggs of most water-birds. In 

 general, however, they were of a dull dark cream-colour, thickly blotched, 

 sprinkled and touched with different shades of purple, umber, and black. 

 When fresh, these eggs are delicious food, as I have had abundant occasion 

 to know. The nests were in this place all situated on the bare rock, but in 

 all other respects resembled those found among the grass or on more elevated 

 rocks; they were formed of sea-weeds, well constructed, about six inches 

 across within, and twelve in their greatest diameter. Some of the nests 

 were much thicker and larger than others; many were placed within the 

 distance of a foot from each other; and the whole place was covered with 

 feathers and dung, which emitted a very disagreeable stench, proving to us 

 that it was annually resorted to by these birds. To our surprise the birds 

 were very shy. Among those killed by us were some having all the ap- 

 pearance of mature age, such as I have mentioned above. The number of 

 individuals among them having the black ring on the bill was much greater 

 than among those found near Grand Manan; some, however, were without 

 this ring, and on others it was but partially marked. Some had no white on 

 the tips of the primaries, and differences were also observable in the length 

 of the tarsus and toes; but all had the same voice, and were actually of the 

 same species. We also found considerable differences in their size and 

 weight, even in individuals of the same sex, some weighing one pound, 

 others four ounces more, and some so much as one pound ten ounces. The 

 males, at an average, were larger than the females. Not a bird of any other 

 species was found there, or on the grassy islands. 



Whatever opinion may be held as to the synonyms of this Gull, I am 

 perfectly assured of the above mentioned variations in the colour, size, and 



