322 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



Bonaparte's Gull. Larus Philadelphia 



14.00 



Ad. in spring and summer. — Head black; tail and under parts 

 white; back and wings pearl-gray; outer icing-feathers white nearly 

 to the tip, which is black; bill black; feet rich orange-red. Ad. in 

 autumn. — Head whitish, a dusky spot back of the eye; otherwise 

 like the adult in summer; bill black; feet pale flesh-color. Im. — 

 Similar to fall adult, but tail crossed at the tip by a black band. 



Bonaparte's Gull is a common migrant along the coast 

 of New York and New England, a rare migrant on the 

 Hudson, and a rather rare straggler to other inland waters, 

 occurring in April and from August to October ; it winters 

 sparingly along Long Island Sound. It is an unsuspicious 

 species, allowing a near approach. In grace it almost equals 

 the terns, sinking gently on the water or feeding daintily 

 just over the surf. In spring it is easily distinguished from 

 all other gulls, except the Laughing Gull, by the black 

 head and throat. In fall, when it has lost this plumage, it 

 may be distinguished from the Herring Gull by its size, 

 from the Kittiwake by its black bill and by its preference 

 for the inshore waters, and from the Laughing Gull at this 

 season by the wings, which have the general effect of white, 

 tipped with black. The young birds have the tip of the 

 tail crossed by a broad black band. Along the coast of 

 Maine and north of Cape Cod the Laughing Gull is very 

 rare ; south of Cape Cod in the summer the Bonaparte's 

 Gull does not occur. 



Laughing Gull. Larus atricilla 



16.50 



Ad. — Head black; back and wings bluish-gray; hind neck, 

 tail, and under parts white; outer quill-feathers entirely black j 

 bill and feet dark brownish-red. Ad. in autumn. — Similar, but 

 head white, streaked on the sides and hind neck with dusky. 

 Im. — Similar to winter adult, but upper parts brown, tail broadly 

 tipped with black. 



