of the island. They
lay three eggs of a grayish color marked with brown. In rare cases
unspotted bluish white eggs are found. Size 2.80 x 1.70.

[Illustration 046: Western Gull. Herring Gull.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 45

52. VEGA GULL. _Larus vegae._

Range.--Coast of Alaska, south in winter to California.

Similar to the Herring Gull, but with the mantle darker, but not so dark
as in the Western Gull. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as
those of the Herring Gull, except that in a series, the eggs of the Vega
will average a little darker in ground color. It nests during May on the
coasts and islands of Bering Sea, placing its eggs in a hollow on the
ground. Size 2.75 x 1.65.

53. CALIFORNIA GULL. _Larus californicus._

Range.--Western North America, breeding in the interior.

A smaller Gull than the Herring with the primaries grayish instead of
black; length twenty-five inches. This Gull is found in winter on the
coast from British Columbia southward to Lower California, but nests in
the interior from Utah northward. They nest very abundantly around the
Great Salt Lake, placing their nests generally upon the bare ground.
Sometimes there is a scant lining of grasses or weeds and again the
nests will be situated in the midst of a tussock of grass. Three or four
eggs generally constitute a set, but occasionally five are laid. The
usual nesting time is during May. They show the same great variations in
color and markings common to most of the Gulls. Size 2.60 x 1.80.

54. RING-BILLED GULL. _Larus delawarenis._

Range.--Whole of North America, breeding from the United States
northward and wintering south to the Gulf States.

A small Gull, eighteen inches in length, with a light gray mantle, black
primaries with white tips, and always to be distinguished in the
breeding season by the black band around the middle of the greenish
yellow bill. They nest in enormous colonies on islands in the interior
of the country and in smaller colonies on the coasts. Thousands of them
breed on the lakes of the Dakotas and northward. The majority of them
nest on the ground, although on the coast they are often found on the
cliffs. They commonly lay three eggs placing them in a slight hollow in
the ground, generally on the grassy portions of the islands. The color
varies from grayish to brownish, marked with brown and lilac. The height
of the nesting season is in June. Size of egg