RING-BILLED GULL. 
54. Larus delawarensis. 18 inches. 
A small Gull with light gray mantle, black primaries with 
white tips and always to be identified in the breeding season 
by the black band around the middle of the greenish yellow 
bill. They nest in large colonies on the islands in the in¬ 
terior of the country. They frequent lakes and ponds at high 
altitudes in Colorado. Thousands of them breed about the 
lakes of the Dakotas and northward. 
Nest. —Commonly lay three eggs, placing them in a slight 
hollow on the ground generally on the grassy portion of some 
island (2.80 x 1.75). 
Range. —North America. On the Pacific coast from Lower 
California to British Columbia. 
CALIFORNIA GULL. 
53. Larus californicus. 23 inches. 
This is a slightly smaller Gull that the Cal. Herring Gull 
and the primaries are grayish instead of black. Bill yellow, 
with red spot near end of lower mandible; feet greenish yellow. 
Nest. —Abundantly around Great Salt Lake, placing their 
nests generally upon the bare ground. Three or four eggs 
constitute a set, and they are the usual color of the Gulls \ 
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