Page:Condor11(5).djvu/11

Sept., 1909 NEST-ING OF THE HEERMANN GULL 153 third of the eggs were heavily incubated. The remainder were in all the lesser stages. The sets contain two and three eggs in about equal numbers, with a possi- ble majority of three. Extreme sets measure in millimeters: 63X44; 61X41; 60X42 (this was the largest); the smallest measures 58X41; 56X42; 53X36 (this 'last egg was the smallest of the series). Of the series of sets of three the average measurements are: 58.1X41.3; 58X41.4; 57X40.2; the largest set of two is 60X43.2; 59.2X42.1; and the smallest measures 58.4X41; 56.1X41.3; aver- age for sets of two, 59X40; 58X40.3. The average sized egg is 58X40.2. The eggs show the greatest variation in color. The general ground color is pearl gray with a very slight creamy tinge. In some the ground color is ashy gray and in others light bluish gray. All the eggs are spotted and blotcht, the markings showing no particular rule for location at one end or the other. They have faint lavender spots which are covered with smaller but more distinct spots of grayish brown, umber, grayish blue and dark lavender. They are very rarely scratcht with fine lines, but occasionally the spots and splashes show a trend to a lengthwise direction. A few examples also have faint wreaths about the large end. Where TYPICAL NEST OF THE HEERMANN GULL this occurs the area inside the wreath is usually void of heavy markings and dec- orated only with faint irregular lavender spots. In extreme examples the eggs range from one egg, which is indistinctly speckt with cinnamon brown and markt evenly with faint lavender, to an egg which has a ground color twice as deep as the egg just mentioned, and heavily splotcht with dark olive and dark lavender. There is also one set of three which is especially unlike the others in that the eggs are smaller and more elongated, both ends of the egg being almost identical in shape. This set is differently markt also. The spots are dingy and not clearly defined as in the remainder of the series. In all, they are the handsomest eggs of any species of this genus which I have ever seen. Besides the colony described, which was the most prominant, there was a small one of nine pairs on a rock fifty yards north of the main rock. There were also a few individuals nesting in remote locations on another rock. These nests were difficult to locate and this was only possible by watching the bird until she hovered near the nesting site. It seemed unusual to find Gulls nesting in separate pairs, while a colony was near.