larltle— the gulls and terns. 233 



gray, passing terminally into white, and without a trace of black. Bill greenish yellow, 

 cross ; near the end by a blackish band, the tip sometimes tinged with orange; i ictus and 

 eyelids vermilion-red: interior of mouth rich orange red, more intense posteiiorly; iris 

 clear pale yellow, sometimes tinged with greenish; claws black. 1 Adult, in winter: Sim- 

 ilar, but the head and n^ck, except beneath, strraked with brownish gay. Young, first 

 plumage: Above, brownish dusky, the feathers bordered with pa'e grayish buff; primaries 

 black sh dusky, the inner quills bluish gray basally, and tipped with white; secondaries 

 bluish gray on basal half, dusky black terminally where edged with white ; basal two thirds 

 of the tail pale gray, more whitish ba-ally, mottled with deeper grayish: terminal third 

 dusky black, narrowly tipped with white. Lower parts white, spotted laterally with gray- 

 ish bn>wn. "Bill black, base of lower mandible and edges of the uppe-, toward the base, 

 livid flesh-color; edges of eyelids livid blue; iris hazel; feet purplish gray, claws brownish 

 black" (Audubon). 



Length, about 18. (10-20.00 inches; wing, 13.60-15.75 (average, 14.45); culmen, 1.55-1.75 (1.61); 

 depth of bill through angle. .50-65 (.56); tarsus. 1.90-2.45 (2.14); middle toe. 1.30-1.60 (1.46). 

 [Sixteen adults.] 



Like the Herring Gull (Z. argentatus smitJisonianus) , this is a 

 common species throughout eastern North America, the north- 

 ern border of the United States being, approximately, the 

 southern limit of its summer home, and the northern limit of 

 its winter range. Its habits are essentially like those of its 

 larger relative. 



Larus atricilla Linn. 



LAUGHING GULL. 



Popular synomyms. Black-headed Gull; Apipisca grande de alas largas (Mexico); 



Gaviota (Mexico). 

 Larus atricilla Linn. S. N. ed. 10. i, 1758,1311; ed. 12, i, 1766, 225 (based on Larus major 

 Catesb. i, 89, but also includes the European species. L. ridibundus Linn.). — Nutt. 

 Man. ii. 1831, 291.— AuD. Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, 118, pi. 314; Synop. 1839, 321; B. Am. vii, 

 1811. 136. pi. 413— Coues. Key, 1872, 315; Check List, 1873. No. 551.— Saunders. P. Z. S. 

 ' 1878. 19t.-HiDc:w. Norn. N. Am. B. 18sl, No. 673; Man. N. Am. B. 18b7. 35.-B. B. & R. 



Water B N. Am. ii, 1884, 251— A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 58. 

 Larus (Chroieocephalus atricilla Bkuch. J. f. O. 1853, 106.— Coues, B. N. W. 1S7I. 650, 

 OhroicocephaluH atricilla Lawr. in B ird's 15. N. Am. 1858, 850.— Baibd, Cat. X. Am. B. 

 I 159, No. 607.— COUES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 8l0;2d Check List, 1882, No. 786. 

 Larus ridibundus Wils. Am. Orn. ix, 1811. 89. pi. 74, Ug. 4 (not of Linn.). 

 Larus pluiabiceps Brehm, Lohrb. 722 (Gray). 

 Larus {Atricilla) megalnpterus Bruch, J. f. 0. 1855, 287. 

 1 trioill* ca'esbcei Bon'ap. Naumannia. 1854, 212. 

 Atricilla minor Bonap. l.o. 

 Atricilla marro.utera Bonap. i.e. 

 Larus {Atricilla) microplerus Bruch. t. o. 28?. 



i" Adult male, in summer. Bill marked opposite the angle with a broad trnnsvorse 

 band of brownish black, between which and the base it is light greeuish >ellow. the tips 

 orauge-yollow. Edges of eyell Is greenish yellow; iris bright yellow. Feet greenish yel- 

 low, the webs tlncod with orange, olawa black" (Audubon). 



-30 



