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Sept (To May a few in summer Sing)
to May, a few in summer. Sing Sing, common T. V., Sept. 21 to May 9; common W. V. when river is open. Cambridge, abundant W. V., Nov. to Apl.
Nest, of grasses, moss, seaweed, etc., on the ground, but, where the birds have been persistently robbed, it is more compactly built and placed in trees, sometimes fifty feet or more from the ground. Eggs, two to three, grayish olive-brown, rarely whitish, spotted, blotched, and scrawled with distinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2.85 x 1.90.
This species is by far the most abundant winter Gull along the coasts of the Middle and Southern States. Unlike the more pelagic species, it frequents our rivers and harbors, feeding about piers and wharves, and near the cities showing comparatively little fear of man. Sometimes one may see them "bedded" in flocks on the water, where they alight to rest. It is generally this species which follows in the wake of our coastwise vessels, sailing astern, when the wind is from ahead, without the slightest perceptible movement of the wings. (For an interesting life-history of the Herring Gull see Mackay, Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 221-228.) The EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (51. Larus argentatus) differs from our species in being slightly smaller and in having the two white spaces at the tip of the first primary joined, the black spot, therefore, being broken or entirely absent. It is of rare occurrence on the Atlantic coast of North America. 54. Larus delawarensis Ord. RING-BILLED GULL. Ad. in summer.-Back and wings pearl-gray; first primary black, with a white spot near the tip, the base of the inner half of the inner web pearl-gray (Fig. 60, b); second primary black, the basal half of the inner web pearl-gray; on the third to sixth primaries the black decreases rapidly, and each one is tipped with white; rest of the plumage pure white; bill greenish yellow with a black band in front of the nostril. Ad. in winter.-Similar to the above, but the head and nape streaked with grayish. Im. - Upper parts varying from ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish, to pearl-gray, the feathers more or less mottled, spotted, or, on the head and neck, streaked with ashy fuscous; outer primaries black, tail varying from pearl-gray, more or less mottled with blackish, to white, and crossed near the end by a wide band of black; basal half of the bill yellowish, end black. L., 18.50; W., 14:00; T., 6.00; B., 1.60.
Range.-North America, more common in the interior; breeds from southern Minnesota and Newfoundland northward; winters from Long Island to Cuba and Mexico.
Washington, very common T. V., Feb. to Apl. 5; Oct. to Nov.; rare in winter. Long Island, common W. V., Aug. to Apl. Sing Sing, casual T. V. Nest, of grasses, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to three, clay-color, buffy, or whitish, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, 2.30 × 1.65. GULLS.
The coast-inhabiting individuals of this species resemble the Herring Gull in habits, and are not easily identifiable from that species unless the two be seen together, when the smaller size of the Ring-bill is noticeable.
In the interior, where the species is locally common, it feeds on insects, which it catches both on the ground and in the air. The MEW GULL (56. Larus canus) -a European species-has been found once in Labrador. 58. Larus atricilla Linn. LAUGHING GULL; BLACK-HEADED GULL. (See Fig. 6, 6.) Ad. in summer. -Back and wings dark pearl-gray; primaries black, the inner ones with small white tips (Fig. 60, c); whole head and throat deep slate-color; rest of the plumage, including the nape, pure white, the breast sometimes suffused by a delicate peach-blossom tint; bill dark reddish, brighter at the tip. Ad. in winter.-Resembles the above, but has the head and throat white, the crown and sides of the head and sometimes the nape spotted or streaked with grayish. Im. - Upper parts light ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish; primaries black; forehead and under parts white, sometimes washed in places with dusky; tail dark pearl-gray, broadly tipped with black. L., 16.50; W., 12.50; T., 4·90; B., 1.65.