SILVERY GULL. ^ ]Q7 



or nearly black. In spring they acquire their full size, but still retain the 

 grey and rusty plumage. The next year they shew much light ash-grey 

 and white about the head, neck, and lower parts, the orange spot appears on 

 the bill, the feet and legs are flesh-coloured, the tail still partially banded 

 towards the extremity. At this age, however, I believe they breed, as I 

 observed some coloured in the manner described, mated with older birds. 

 The third spring they acquire the colouring represented in the plate. 



I found no other species breeding on the same islands. Old and young 

 associate together all the year round, excepting during the breeding season, 

 when the latter separate and pursue their avocations together. The cry or 

 cackling of this species, which is heard at a considerable distance, may be 

 imitated by pronouncing the syllables hac, hac, hac, cah, call, cah. 



The Herring Gull has a greater range of migration along our coast and in 

 the interior than any other American species. I have found it on our great 

 lakes, and on the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi, clown to the Gulf of 

 Mexico, during the autumnal months, and in winter along the shores of the 

 latter, and all our eastern coasts. It may be said to be resident in the United 

 States, as it breeds from off Boston to Eastport in Maine; but the greater 

 number go farther north. We found the nests of some on the bare rocks of 

 the Seal Islands off Labrador, but not on the coast itself. They were com- 

 posed of dry plants and moss brought from the mainland. The birds kept 

 by themselves, and appeared to be completely mastered by the Great Black- 

 backed Gulls. On our return we saw old and young on the northern coast 

 of Newfoundland, and on the different bays over which we passed. 



I have represented an adult male, but not one of the largest, and a young- 

 bird shot in winter, which I have placed on a bunch of Racoon oysters, 

 where it was standing when shot. 



Larcs argentatus, Bonap. Syn., p. 360. 



Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 304. 



Herring Gdll, Larus argentatus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 588; vol. v. p. 638. 



Male, 23, 53. Young, in winter, ISf, 51. 



Abundant in autumn, winter, and early spring, from Texas along the 

 whole Atlantic coast to Newfoundland. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to 

 Melville Island. Common in autumn on the Great Lakes, the Ohio, and 

 Mississippi. 



Adult Male in spring. 



Bill shorter than the head, robust, compressed, higher near the end than 

 at the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight at the 

 base, declinate and arched towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides 



