Page:The birds of America, volume 7.djvu/221



I have not met with this species farther south than the Bay of New York. During the winter it is not rare about Boston and farther eastward. At the approach of summer, before the pairing of the Herring Gull, Larus argen- tatus, the White-winged Gulls collect in flocks, and set out for the distant north, where they breed.

The flight of this species so much resembles that of the Herring Gull, that were it not for its smaller size, and the different colour of its wings, it could not be distinguished from the other. It is less shy, however, proceeds farther up the rivers and salt-water creeks, and alights oftener on the water as well as on the salt-meadows, than that species. While at Portland in Maine, I observed a good number of these Gulls flying over the inner har- bour close to the shores, descending towards the water, and picking up gar- bage in the manner of the Herring Gulls, with which they associated. Their notes were not so loud, nor so often heard.

I was surprised to find but very few on the coast of Labrador, and these did not seem to be breeding, for although we carefully watched them, we did not succeed in finding any nests.

Larus leucopterus, Bonap. Syn., p. 361.

Larus leucopterus, White-winged Silvery Gull, Swains, and Rich. P. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 418.

White-winged Silvery Gull, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 305.

White-winged Silvery Gull, Larus leucopterus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 553. Adult, 26, 50.

During winter from New York to Nova Scotia. Not rare. Breeds on the islands and peninsulas of the Arctic Seas.

Adult Male.

Bill shorter than the head, strong, nearly straight, compressed. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight at the base, arched and decli- nate towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, nearly direct, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal groove rather long and