484 
HERRING GULL. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on rocky cliffs, composed of sticks, sea-weeds etc. Eggs , three or four in number, oval in form, varying 
from bluish-white to deep yellowish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown and lilac of varying shades. 
Dimensions from 2*20x2*95 to 2*30 x 3*00. 
HABITS. 
The Great Black-hacked Gulls are quite common along our northern coast, becoming 
rare, however, to the southward, but occur quite to Florida. Of all shy birds, these large 
Gulls are the shyest, it being difficult to walk within rifle range, .especially of mature 
birds. They are fond of haunting sand-bars that are left exposed by the falling tide, but 
will rise at high water to fish. These Gulls, like many other species, are fond of the vari¬ 
ous species of echinoderms, or sea urchins, as well as mollusks, and in order to break them 
open, will fly with their booty to a great height, then let it fall upon the rocks below. The 
notes of the Great Black-backs are not only harsh but loud, and are uttered most frequent¬ 
ly, during storms, when their wild cries, coming to the ear amid tKe sounds of shrieking 
winds and dashing breakers, produce a singularly weird effect, though in perfect keeping 
with the fury of the elements. The southernmost breeding grounds of the Black-backs, is 
a little, rocky island in the Bay of Fundy, the top of which is so high as to be almost in¬ 
accessible. Perce Rock, in Gaspe Basin, is another resort for them, but I do not know 
of any more this side of Labrador, 
LARUS ARGENTATUS. 
Herring Gull. 
Larus argentatus Brunn., Orn. Beg-.; 1764, 44. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sf Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Color. Adult. Back and entire wings, light pearly blue. Primaries, tipped 
with white which is preceded and banded with black. Secondaries and tertiaries also tipped with white. Iris, yellowish- 
white, bill, yellow, with a vermilion spot near tip of under mandible, and feet, pinkish. In winter. Similar but the head 
and neck are streaked with dusky. Young, dark ashy-brown throughout, more or less mottled with white. Bill, black. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known in the adult stage by the large size and white tipped primaries which are black banded, and young by the dark 
colors. Distributed, in summer, from Massachusetts, northward. Winters from Maine to Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens. Length, 24’25; stretch, 56*50; wing, I7‘00; tail, 6*50; bill, 2*38; tarsus, 2‘ 13. 
Longest specimen, 26*00; greatest extent of wing, 59*00; longest wing, 18*00; tail, 7*00; bill, 2*75; tarsus, 2*25 Shortest 
specimen-, 22 50; smallest extent of wing, 54*00; shortest wing, 16*00; tail, 6*00; bill, 2*05; tarsus, 2*05. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground, on rocky cliffs, and in trees, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Eggs, three or four in 
number, oval in form, varying from bluish-white to deep yellowish-brown in color, spotted and blotched with brown and 
lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from 1*80 x 2*70 to 2*05x2*90. 
HABITS. 
The Herring Gulls are the most abundant of all the genus on our shores, frequenting 
every harbor and river mouth along the entire coast, and gathering by thousands on the 
sand-bars to rest, or during storms, resorting to the flats. Their notes are not quite as 
harsh as those of the preceding species, but resemble them somewhat. Herring Gulls are 
very shy, and even when breeding, take good care to keep out of gun shot, although they 
display considerable solicitude for the safety of their eggs. It is probable that these birds 
formerly nested on the coast of Massachusetts, north of Cape Ann, but now they do not 
breed nearer than the coast of Maine. The eggs are deposited about the first of June, and 
the nests are placed on rocky cliffs, in marshes, or in trees. The habit of building their 
