GULLS 
157 
part of the outer web; the third and fourth primaries have smaller white 
tips and are marked with ashy gray near their ends on both webs. W., 15*50- 
17*00; B., 1*65-1*88; depth of B., at projection on the lower mandible, 
*60-’66; Tar., 2*10-2*35 (Brewster). 
Remarks . — For a plate and detailed discussion of the status of this and 
related species see Dwight, Auk, XXIII, 1906, pp. 26-43. 
Range. — N. Atlantic coast of N. Am., breeding in Cumberland Sound; 
s. in winter to N. Y. and Conn. 
Long Island, one record, Mch. 8. • > 
Nest, on “the shelving rocks of high cliffs.” Eggs, resembling those of 
L. glaucescens (Kumlien). Date, Weyprecht Islands, Ellesmere Land, June 
15 (Thayer Coll.). 
Kumlien found this bird breeding in considerable numbers near 
the head of Cumberland Gulf, and it is now known to winter south 
regularly, if rarely, to Massachusetts and casually farther. The adult 
“when seen under favorable conditions, is easily distinguished from 
L. hyperboreus and L. leucopterus , for the spots on the primaries cannot 
fail to be noticed whether the bird is sitting or flying” (Allen, F. H., 
Auk, 1908, pp. 296-300, status near Boston). 
47. Larus marimis Linn. Great Black-backed Gull. Ads. in 
summer. — Back and wings slaty black', wing-feathers tipped with white; 
rest of plumage white; tail sometimes mottled with dusky. Ads. in winter. — 
Similar, but with head and neck streaked with grayish. Im. — Head and 
nape whitish, streaked with grayish; back and wings, except primaries, 
brownish, the feathers margined and irregularly marked with pale buffy; 
primaries dark brownish black, inner ones with small white tips; tail mot- 
tled with black and white; underparts whitish, more or less streaked or 
barred with grayish. L., 29*00; W., 18*50; T., 8*00; B., 2*50. 
Range. — Coasts of the N. Atlantic. Breeds from North Devon Island 
and cen. Greenland s. to N. S. and to lat. 50° on European coasts; winters 
from s. Greenland s. to the Great Lakes and Delaware Bay (casually to 
Fla.) and the Canaries; accidental in Bermuda. 
Long Island, common W. V., Nov. 3-Mch. 13. Cambridge, common 
W. V., Dec. 1-Apl. 15. 
Nest, of grasses, seaweed, etc., on the ground. Eggs, 2-3, clay-color, 
brownish ashy or buffy, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, 3*00 x 2*15. 
Date, Kings Co., N. S., May 23. 
A more northern species than the Herring Gull. Mr. Brewster, 
who observed it in numbers in the island of Anticosti in July, writes: 
“The Black-backs are exceedingly noisy birds, especially when their 
young are in danger, as well as toward evening. ... I identified 
four distinct cries : a braying ha-ha-ha , a deep keow, keow, a short bark- 
ing note, and a long-drawn groan, very loud and decidedly impressive. 
... At all times of the year, during the breeding season as well as 
in winter, it is by far the wariest bird that I have ever met.” 
# The Siberian Gull (50. Larus affinis ) — a large Gull inhabiting northern 
Asia and Europe — is accidental in Greenland. 
51. Larus argentatus Pont. Herring Gull. Ads. in summer. — 
Back and wings deep pearl-gray; first primary tipped with wfiite, then 
crossed by a small black mark, then a much larger white one; this is followed 
by a black space; the black runs down the outer web of the feather to near 
its base and the shaft part of the inner web nearly as far, leaving the inner 
