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A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIFE-HISTOEY OF THE 

 HERRING-GULL. 



By Eric B. Dunlop. 



On April 14th, 1915, I arrived at the locality on one of the 

 Lakes of Central Canada, where the following observations were 

 made, travelling over the ice by dog-sleigh. Owing to the warm 

 weather of the previous ten days the ice was already weakening ; 

 in fact, the exceptionally early spring weather had caused small 

 patches of open water to show amid the ice in the vicinity of 

 the islands, the current flowing between them wearing the ice 

 away more rapidly than on the open lake. 



On going out to an islet, I found that there were many 

 Herring-Gulls (Larus argentatus) there ; a fur-trapper (a careful 

 observer) who had been in the vicinity for the previous month, 

 and whom I had previously asked to note the arrival of the 

 Gulls, saw the first two birds at this islet on April 6th. 



On April 16th there appeared to have been a considerable 

 accession to the numbers of the Gulls during the day ; and up 

 up to 10 p.m., if not later, they were making a great noise, 

 calling continuously. 



On visiting the islet on April 20th, it was found that the 

 Gulls in some few cases were scratching a hollow out for their 

 nests, and in some of the hollows pieces of vegetation had been 

 placed. This was the last day I was able to reach the Gulls' 

 breeding-place over the ice. 



