256 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



these birds are to be seen north of Florida after the early part of October. This is 

 an abundant and a resident species on both coasts of Florida, along the whole extent 

 of the Gulf of ]Mexico, and both on the Atlantic and on the Pacific coast of Central 

 America. It is not found on the Pacific coast of the United States. 



This Gull is more or less abundant in nearly all the "West India Islands, where it 

 breeds, and is probably resident throughout the year. Leotaud cites it as being a 

 somewhat uncommon visitant of Trinidad, where it is known to occur only from July 

 to October. It is a bird that is easily tamed, and will live apparently perfectly 

 contented and domesticated in the courtyards of dwellings. 



Professor Alfred ISTewton obtained examples of this species at St. Thomas, and 

 often saw small birds of this family, with a dark hood, about St. Croix, which he had 

 no hesitation in referring to this species. They generally kept in small flocks at no 

 great distance from the shore. Professor Kewton also states that the only trust- 

 worthy instance on record of the occurrence of this Gull in Eixrope is that mentioned 

 by Colonel Montagu, which took place August, 1774. The other supposed instances, 

 mentioned by other writers, are now presumed to have reference to individuals of 

 Larus Audouini. 



Mr. E. C. Taylor mentions this species as being the only Gull he saw in the West 

 India Islands, and he did not meet with it south of the Island of St. Thomas. There, 

 however, and at Porto Rico it Avas very abundant, especially in the harbor of St. 

 Thomas and at San Juan de Porto Rico. 



On the authority of Mr. Hill, Mr. Gosse includes this species among the birds of 

 Jamaica; it is found about the San Pedro Keys. 



Mr. Salvin found it quite common about the Belize, and thinks that it breeds on 

 the Keys along the coast. He subsequently met with it both on the Atlantic and 

 on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. Individuals from the eastern coast Avere in the 

 plumage of summer ; while those from Chiapam were either in their winter or in their 

 immature plumage. 



Mr. Dresser speaks of this Gull as being abundant on the sea-coast of Texas during 

 the summer, and he saw great numbers off Bagdad from June to August ; when at 

 Galveston in June, 1864, he found it breeding abundantly, making a verj^ slight nest 

 of straws and drift-stuff, in which it lays four eggs. The nest was generally placed 

 on the ground or in a tussock of grass. 



Dr. Bryant found it abundant, resident, and breeding, at New Providence, in the 

 Bahamas. It is of rare occurrence in Bermuda, Avhere ]\Iajor Wedderburn reports 

 the capture of a single specimen taken alive in the winter of 1851. 



This species arrives on the coast of Long Island in the latter part of April, is 

 quite common, and is well known to sportsmen as the "■ Laughing Gull " — a name it 

 evidently Avell deserves, as its notes resemble in the most striking manner a loud burst 

 of derisive laughter. This is more especially the case when the bird has eggs or 

 young, and these are threatened by intruders. Its cries of deep distress strangely 

 resemble shouts of laughter, and seem expressive of sentiments quite unlike what 

 they really are intended to convey. This is a courageous bird, and willingly exposes 

 itself to almost certain death in defence of its young. I have found it breeding in 

 large numbers on the Island of Muskegat, near Nantucket, and again on small islands 

 near the entrance of the Chesapeake. In both these places the birds were much 

 harassed, and their eggs and young were taken by the fishermen. In the former 

 place, where I found them so abundant in 1842, I am told they have already become 

 extinct. 



This Gull breeds in considerable abundance on the coast of Long Island, and its 



