LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 
52. Vega Gull Larus vegae. 
Range. — Coast of Alaska, south in winter to 
California. 
Similar to the Herring Gull, but with the man- 
tle darker, but not so dark as in the Western Gull. 
The nesting habits and eggs are the same as 
those of the Herring Gull, except that in a ser- 
ies, the eggs of the Vega will average a little 
darker in ground color. It nests during May on 
the coasts and islands of Bering Sea, placing its 
eggs in a hollow on the ground. Size 2.75 x 1.65. 
Grayish brown 
53. California Gull. Larus calif orni- 
cus. 
-billed Gull 
California Gull 
Range. — Western North America, breeding in 
the interior. Rin§ 
A smaller Gull than the Herring with the prim- 
aries grayish instead of black; length twenty- live inches. This Gull is found 
in winter on the coast from British Columbia southward to Lower California, 
but nests in the interiar from Utah northward. They nest very abundantly 
around the Great Salt Lake, placing their nests generally upon the bare ground. 
Sometimes there is a scant lining of grasses or weeds and again the nests will 
be situated in the midst of a tussock of grass. Three or four eggs generally 
constitute a set, hut occasionally five are laid. The usual nesting time is dur- 
ing May. They show the same great variations in color and markings com- 
mon to most of the Gulls. Size 2.60 x I. SO. 
54. Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarenis. 
Range. — Whole of North America, breeding from the United States north- 
ward and wintering south to the Gulf States. 
A small Gull, eighteen inches in length, with a light gray mantle, black 
primaries with white tips, and always to be distinguished in the breeding sea- 
son by the black band around the middle of the greenish yellow bill. They 
nest in enormous colonies on islands in the interior of the country and in 
smaller colonies on the coasts. Thousands of them breed on the lakes of the 
Dakotas and northward. The majority of them nest on the ground, although 
on the coast they are often found on the cliffs. They commonly lay three eggs 
placing them in a slight hollow in the ground, generally on the grassy portions 
of the islands. The color varies from grayish to brownish, marked with 
brown and lilac. The height of the nesting season is in June. Size of eggs, 
2.80 x 1.75. 45 
