November, 1917 
563 
FOREST AND STREAM 
SOME COMMON 
GAME BIRDS 
By THOMAS HUBERT HUTTON 
IX.—FRANKLIN’S GULL 
N writing on the sub¬ 
ject of larus frank- 
lini, or Franklin’s 
gull, the late Prof. 
F. E. Beal, assistant 
in the Biological Sur¬ 
vey, says: “The term 
‘gull’ usually suggests 
a vision of dashing 
spray or far-extend¬ 
ing beaches, with 
reedy bays and out- 
reaching points of 
sand or islets on 
which the birds rest to preen their feathers 
after their long flights, and where they 
make their nests and rear their young. 
“The species under consideration, how¬ 
ever, spends little time on the seacoast, but 
is an inhabitant of far inland prairies and 
broad reaches of marsh land, where it lives 
and breeds during the warm season. In 
winter it retires southward, but lingers long 
enough in some of the southern states to 
be of material assistance to agriculture. 
“In an investigation of the food of 
Franklin’s gull, ninety-three stomachs were 
examined. Nearly all were taken from 
ffieir breeding grounds, and in the breeding 
season. Unfortunately none were secured 
during July, which is probably the very 
height of the reproductive period. Of the 
whole food, 94.46 percent consisted of ani¬ 
mal matter and 5.54 percent of vegetable. 
Of the latter nearly all was of no signifi¬ 
cance, probably being taken accidentally, 
except the contents of two stomachs col¬ 
lected during May in North Dakota. About 
75 per cent, of the contents of each of 
these consisted of wheat, probably gathered 
from newly sown fields. This was the only 
vegetable food found in any stomach that 
was of the least economic value.” 
In conclusion, we urge sportsmen to dis¬ 
criminate in the slaughter of our feathered 
friends. Readers who wish to get a better 
idea of the work the government is doing 
in the cause of game preservation, and the 
preservation of all animals that are of eco¬ 
nomic value to man, can secure from the 
Department of Agriculture detailed infor¬ 
mation on the particular topic in which 
they have interest. With reference to the 
subject discussed in this paper, it may be 
stated that Farmer’s Bulletin number 497 
will be found to contain a complete state¬ 
ment and much interesting information, 
well worth reading. Lack of space pre¬ 
vents treating the subject here fully. 
Hello Broth er, 
If You Like 
HUNTING 
FISHING 
TRAPPING 
and stories and pictures of out¬ 
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the best places to go for 
good sport. 
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This picture is in sepia brown printed on canvas by a special process and 
mounted on a stretcher similar to that used for mounting a real painting. 
It will make an attractive decoration for any sportsman’s home or office. 
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