294 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



tinged with peach-blossom red. A black hood covering three quar- 

 ters of an inch of the nape, and extending as much lower on the 

 throat. Mantle and wings bluish-grey. The outer web of the first 

 quill feather is black to near the tip, and a broad band of the same 

 crosses the ends of the 5 outer primaries : all the quill feathers are 

 terminated with white, that on the first primary and of all the secon- 

 daries being upwards of an inch long ; all the shafts whitish. Bill 

 and legs vermilion, the former obscurely barred near the tip. Bill 

 stout, rather curved from the nostrils ; its depth equal to twice its 

 breadth. Wings an inch and a half longer than the perfectly even 

 tail. Bare space above the knee one inch- 



BONAPARTIAN GULL. 



(Larus Bonapartii, Swain, et Richard. North. Zool. ii. p. 425.) 



Sp. Charact. — With a black slender bill ; the mouth and feet car- 

 mine-red ; wings bordered with white anteriorly ; posteriorly to- 

 gether with the back, pearl grey ; 6 exterior quills black at the 

 end, slightly tipped with white ; the first quills entirely black ex- 

 teriorly ; tarsus scarcely an inch and a half long. — Summer plu- 

 mage, with the head greyish-black. 



This elegant Gull is common in all parts of the fur coun- 

 tries, where it associates with the Terns, and is distinguish- 

 ed by its peculiar, shrill and plaintive cry. It is allied to L. 

 capistratus of Bonaparte. Small flocks, early in autumn, 

 are occasionally seen on the coast of Massachusetts, and 

 sometimes high in the air their almost melodious whistling 

 is heard, as they proceed on their way to the south, or in- 

 land to feed. Their prey appears to be chiefly insects ; and 

 two which I had an opportunity of examining were gorged 

 with ants and their eggs, and some larvae of moths in their 

 pupa state. These birds both old and young are good 

 food. 



Length of the adult 15j^ inches ; of the bill from above, 1 inch 3 

 lines. Summer 2Jlumage ; with the neck, tail coverts, tail, whole under 



