Sept., 1909 
NESTING OF THE IIEERMANN GULL 
153 
third of the eggs were heavily incubated. The remainder were in all the lesser 
stages. The sets contain two and three eggs in about equal numbers, with a possi- 
ble majority of three. Extreme sets measure in millimeters: 63X44; 61X41; 
60X42 (this was the largest); the smallest measures 58X41; 56X42; 53X36 
(this last egg was the smallest of the series ) . Of the series of sets of three 
the average measurements are: 58.1X41.3; 58X41.4; 57X40.2; the largest set of 
two is 60X44.2; 59.2X42.1; and the smallest measures 58.4X41; 56.1X41.3; aver- 
age for sets of two, 59X40; 58X40.3. The average sized egg is 58X40.2. 
The eggs show the greatest variation in color. The general ground color is 
pearl gray with a very slight creamy tinge. In some the ground color is ashy gray 
and in others light bluish gray. All the eggs are spotted and blotcht, the markings 
showing no particular rule for location at one end or the other. They have faint 
lavender spots which are covered with smaller but more distinct spots of grayish 
brown, umber, grayish blue and dark lavender. They are very rarely scratcht with 
fine lines, but occasionally the spots and splashes show a trend to a lengthwise 
direction. A few examples also have faint wreaths about the large end. Where 
TYPICAL NEST OF THE HEERMANN GULL 
this occurs the area inside the wreath is usually void of heavy markings and dec- 
orated only with faint irregular lavender spots. In extreme examples the eggs 
range from one egg, which is indistinctly speckt with cinnamon brown and in ark t 
evenly with faint lavender, to an egg which has a ground color twice as deep as the 
egg just mentioned, and heavily splotcht with dark olive and dark lavender. There 
is also one set of three which is especially unlike the others in that the eggs are 
smaller and more elongated, both ends of the egg being almost identical in shape. 
This set is differently markt also. The spots are dingy and not clearly defined 
as in the remainder of the series. In all, they are the handsomest eggs of any 
species of this genus which I have ever seen. 
Besides the colony described, which was the most prominent, there was a small 
one of nine pairs on a rock fifty yards north of the main rock. There were also a 
few individuals nesting in remote locations on another rock. These nests were 
difficult to locate and this was only possible by watching the bird until she hovered 
near the nesting site. It seemed unusual to find Gulls nesting in separate pairs, 
while a colony was near. 
