HERRING GULL. 
Larus argentatus smithsonianus. 
Char. Mantle deep pearl gray ; head, tail, and under parts white ; 
outer wing-feathers mostly black, tipped with white; bill yellow, with a 
bar of red at the angle; legs and feet flesh color. Length about 24 
inches. 
In winter the head and neck are streaked with gray. Immature birds 
are mottled brownish gray and dull white ; wings dusky ; toil dusky or 
gray, with a subterminal l)ar of dusky ; bill blackish In younger speci- 
mens the dark tints prevail, some being almo.st uniformly dusky brown. 
They do not acquire full plumage for four or five years. 
Nest. Usually on a cliff, often on a beach or grassy island, some- 
times in a tree or under shelter of a bush, — generally a slight affair, a 
thin mat of loosely arranged grass or moss; though nests placed in 
trees are bulky and compact. 
Eggs. 2-3 (usually 3); pale to dark buff, more or less tinged with 
green, sometimes nearly olive drab ; marked with several .shades of 
brown and lavender; average .size about 2.85 X 1.95. 
The Herring Gull is common to the milder as vyell as cold 
countries of both continents. It is seen sometimes on the 
