GULLS AND TERNS 
23 
Monterey in winter and common down the coast to San Diego. In 
the harbors they alight on the masts and fly about the vessels, often 
following them thirty or forty miles from land. Their name probably 
comes from the commotion they make at sight of a school of herring 
or other little fish. As they follow the small fry about, the fishermen 
often take them for pilots and follow to get the larger fish which are 
in pursuit of the little ones. 
52. Larus vegae (Palmen). Vega Gull. 
Like argentatus, but mantle darker, deep pearl or plumbeous gray ; feet 
pale flesh color. Size about as in argentatus. 
Distribution. — Central Asia to Japan and Bering Sea, and down the 
coast of North America in winter to California. 
Mr. Kobbe, in The Auk (xix. 19), after examining a large num¬ 
ber of specimens, concludes that vega and argentatus are identical, 
but as there is a difference of opinion as to its validity, the species 
is included on what seems to be its only character, the slightly 
darker mantle. 
53. Larus californicus Laurr. California Gull. 
Adults. —Mantle clear bluish gray; outer primaries black, tipped with 
white, the first two with sub terminal white spots; a distinct gray wedge 
on inner web of second ; bill yellow, with red and black spot near end 
of lower mandible; feet greenish. Young: upper parts coarsely spotted 
and mottled with dusky, buffy, grayish, and whitish ; under parts mottled 
and streaked; quills and tail blackish ; bill dusky, with black tip. Length: 
20-23, wing 15.00-16.75, bill 1.65-2.15, depth of bill at angle .60-.75. 
Distribution . — Western North America from Alaska to Mexico, chiefly 
in the interior. 
Mr. Loomis says that in the matter of numbers near Monterey in 
midwinter the California gull ranks with its larger congeners the 
glaucous-winged and the western. Mr. Grinnell finds it common 
along the southern coast, where it frequents the fresh-water marshes, 
and he has seen it on the Los Angeles river-bottoms. At Pescadero 
in the low fields near the ocean hundreds have been seen following 
the plough. 
54. Larus delawarensis Ord. Ring-billed Gull. 
Adults. — Mantle light pearl gray; bill greenish yellow, crossed near end 
by a distinct black band, tip yellow or orange ; eyelids vermilion, iris pale 
yellow ; feet pale yellow, sometimes tinged with greenish. Young : upper 
parts dusky, feathers bordered and marked with grayish buff or whitish ; 
under parts white, spotted along sides with grayish brown ; quills blackish, 
the shorter ones gray at base and tipped with white ; base of tail gray, 
outer half blackish, tipped with white. Length: 18-20, wing 13.60-15.75, 
bill 1.55-1.75, depth at angle of lower mandible .50-.65. 
Distribution. — Whole of North America, breeding as far south as 
Colorado, but mainly north of the United States ; migrating south to Cuba 
and Mexico. 
Nest. — On the ground, made of dry grass. Eggs: usually 3. 
