The California Gull 
coll.: 65.3 x 44.2 (2.57 x 1.74); index 66.6; range 56.6-71.9 by 34.3-47 (2.23-2.83 by 
1.35-1.85). Season: May—June; one brood. 
General Range. —Western North America, breeding in the interior from eastern 
California, Nevada, and North Dakota, north to northern Mackenzie. Occurs during 
migrations along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia southward, less commonly 
in the interior east to Colorado, Kansas, and Texas. Winters chiefly along the coast 
of California and south to southern Mexico; also casually north to Puget Sound. 
Distribution in California. —Common winter resident along the coast, being 
especially common in the harbors and in attendance on shipping. Present more or 
less casually upon inland waters after the close of the breeding season. Breeds in 
large colonies upon islands' of the larger lakes, from Mono north. Also, formerly, 
in the Sacramento River. 
Authorities.—Lawrence (Larus calif or nicus), Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. 
vi., 1854, p. 79 (orig. desc.; type locality, Stockton); Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 
vol. x., 1887, p. 191 (Eagle Lake, breeding); Finley, Condor, vol. ix., 1907, p. 12, figs. 
(Klamath Lake, breeding); H. C. Bryant, Condor, vol. xxi., 1919, p. 127 (eating earth¬ 
worms). 
Taken in Washington Photo by the Author 
A WELTER OF WINGS 
GULLS fill a large place not alone in the “economy of nature’’ but 
in the affections and economics of men. Latterly the envy and despair of 
the automotive engineer, the way of a gull both afoot and aloft has always 
intrigued the admiration of human kind. Little naked savages, fore¬ 
gathered with their elders about some reeking clam stew, have darted at 
them ever and again and have pelted them with futile stones, and then fallen 
silent as the birds chanted their runes of hungry protest, or winged se¬ 
curely aloft in scorn of tribal happenings. Fishermen for a thousand cen¬ 
turies have alternately wrangled and fraternized with them, now bran¬ 
dishing an oar in impotent rage, and now Hinging a largess of fish in 
wondering obedience to some higher law of pity. The picnicking tourist, 
lolling on a southern beach, marks the passing legions of the air with 
squinting eyes, or else bestirs himself to offer refreshment, a neglected 
sandwich or a surplus bun. The artist and the poet, too, chief of na- 
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