224 
C H AR A DRI IFORMES 
the California or Ring-billed. The bill and feet colorations are often seen plainly enough 
for diagnosis. The very dark coloration of the juvenile of the year makes it easily dis- 
tinguishable from the California or the Ring-billed and the lack of a sharply defined tail 
band distinguishes it from any plumage of the latter and the juvenile Kittiwake. 
Nesting. On the ground, on rocky ledges or the flat tops of isolated rocks, in nests 
of seaweed or vegetable matter. 
Distribution. Across northern parts of Old and New Worlds, generally breeding 
north of our southern areas. On the upper Great Lakes and on the east coast. Common 
on almost all the larger bodies of water, fresh or salt, at various seasons. Numbers of 
non-breeding birds summer far south of their nesting grounds. Common in winter on the 
west coast and occasionally so in summer, but we know of no regular breeding grounds 
in the immediate vicinity of the Pacific coast. In the central provinces the species breeds 
probably from the Arctics south to the edges of the prairies, though along the latter line 
the distribution is not well defined, for, in many cases, it has been confused in breeding 
season with the California Gull. 
Figure 324 
Tail feathers and bills uf Herring Gull at various ages: 
a, first year; b, approaching maturity. 
SUBSPECIES. The American form, the American Herring Gull (le Gotland 
argcnte d’Amerique) Lams argentatus smithsonianus has been separated from the Herring 
Gull of the Old World and is general ly 
recognized as a distinct subspecies. 
A form, Thayer’s Gull (le Goeland 
de Thayer) Larus argentatus thayeri, 
characterized by paler and more re- 
stricted black in wing tips (Figure 325), 
has been described from the eastern 
Arctics. It has been traced across the 
northern coast and down the Pacific 
shores of British Columbia where it 
occurs with more normally coloured 
types. The breeding distribution of 
these two forms requires further in- 
vestigation. 
The Herring Gull is the large gull of the interior and is common on 
t lie coast. It is a great wanderer and is often seen on the smallest of our 
lakes, even at a considerable distance from its nesting grounds. The 
gulls that remain south of their normal nesting grounds through the 
summer are immatures or non-breeding birds. In winter the species 
remains upon the larger waters until they are frozen over and often through- 
out the entire season, beating over the open water or perched on the floating 
ice. The gulls haunt harbours and congregate in large numbers about 
sewer outlets for the floating offal. They have also learned that ships 
are abundant providers of toothsome scraps. Fishing stations have great 
attractions for them and there is almost certain to be a large flock in 
attendance about the cleaning tables on the shore. At the seashore, 
shell-fish are eagerly sought for at low tide and the gulls have learned 
the trick of carrying their hard-shelled prey into the air and dropping it 
upon the rocks, after which they descend and extract the savoury morsels 
from the broken case. In rough weather they congregate about foamy 
Figure 32o 
Wing; of typical Thayer’s Gull; scale, 
