50 
SILVERY GULL. 
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, cah, 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, down 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 di'y 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 Bacoon oysters, 
where it was standing when shot. 
Larus argentatus, Bonap. Syn., p. 360. 
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 304. 
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 588 ; vol. V. p. 638. 
Male, 23, 53. Young, in winter, 181, 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 
