46 LAUGHING GULL. 



ing-creek, about the middle of May, the Black-headed Gulls assemble 

 in great multitudes, to feed upon the remains of the King Crabs, which 

 the hogs have left, or upon the spawn, which those curious animals de- 

 posit in the sand, and which is scattered along the shore by the waves. 

 At such times, if any one approach to disturb them, the Gulls will rise 

 up in clouds, every individual squalling so loud, that the roar may be 

 heard at the distance of two or three miles. 



It is an interesting spectacle to behold this species when about recom- 

 mencing their migrations. If the weather be calm, they will rise up in 

 the air, spirally, chattering all the while to each other, in the most 

 sprightly manner, their notes, at such times, resembling the singing of 

 a hen, but far louder, changing often into a haw, ha ha ha hatv ! the 

 last syllable lengthened out like the excessive laugh of a negro. When 

 mounting and mingling together, like motes in the sunbeams, their black 

 heads and wing tips, and snow-white plumage, give them a very beauti- 

 ful appearance. After gaining an immense height, they all move oif, 

 with one consent, in a direct line towards the point of their destination. 



This bird breeds in the marshes. The eggs are three in number, of 

 a dun clay color, thinly marked with small irregular touches of a pale 

 purple, and pale brown ; some are of a deeper dun, with larger marks, 

 and less tapering than others ; the egg measures two inches and a 

 quarter by one inch and a half. 



The Black-heads frequently penetrate into the interior, especially as 

 far as Philadelphia ; but they seem to prefer the neighborhood of the 

 coast, for the purpose of breeding. They retire southward early in the 

 autumn.* 



* From Mr. Ord's supplementary volume. 



