LEADEN-GREY-HOODED MEW. 589 



approach of spring, towards the middle and eastern districts, 

 along the shores of which they breed in considerable num- 

 bers, particularly on those of New Jersey and Long Island, 

 as well as on several islands in the Sound. They constantly 

 evince a dislike to rocky shores, and therefore are seldom 

 seen beyond Massachusetts, in which state, indeed, they are 

 exceedingly rare. 



" At all periods of the year, the Black-headed Gulls keep 

 in flocks formed of many families ; and in the breeding 

 season, or even, as soon as their courtships have commenced, 

 they assemble by hundreds of pairs, or even by thousands. 

 At this time they are so clamorous as to stun your ear with 

 their laughing-like cries, though at other seasons they are 

 generally silent, unless when suddenly alarmed or when 

 chased by the Jager. Their loves are conducted with ex- 

 treme pomposity : they strut and bow to the female, throwing 

 their head backwards, like all other Gulls. You see them 

 first stretching their heads forwards ; then with open bill, 

 vibrating tongue, and eyes all glowing, they emit their loud 

 laughing notes, which, in a general sense, resemble those of 

 many other species, though they are not precisely similar to 

 those of any. 



" Whilst at Great Egg Harbour, in May 1829, shortly 

 after my return from England, I found this species breeding 

 in great numbers on the margins of a vast salt marsh, bor- 

 dering the sea-shore, though separated from the Atlantic by 

 a long and narrow island. About sunrise every morning, an 

 immense number of these birds would rise in the air, as if 

 by common consent, and wing their way across the land, 

 probably intent on reaching the lower shores of the Dela- 

 ware River, or indeed farther towards the head waters of 

 Chesapeake Bay. They formed themselves into long strag- 

 gling lines, following each other singly, at the distance of a 

 few yards. About an hour before sunset, the same birds 

 were seen returning in an extended front, now all silent, 

 although in the morning their cries were incessant, and 

 lasted until they were out of sight. On arriving at the 

 breeding-ground, they immediately settled upon their nests. 

 On a few occasions, when it rained and blew hard, the 



