LIFE HISTORIES OF NOKTH AMERICAN GULLS AND TERNS. 101 



sees it in its first nuptial plumage. As soon as that interesting period is over 

 the gull begins to assume its first mature winter garb, which differs only from 

 tJaat of the summer in showing brown streaks on the head and neck. 



Behavior. — Macgillivray (1852) writes: 



The flight of this bird is peculiarly elegant, resembling, however, tliat of the 

 greater black-backed gull, but more easy and buoyant, with the wings consider- 

 ably curved. Its ordinary ci\v is loud, mellow, and somewhat plaintive, and when 

 a number join in emitting it, which they sometimes do, when assembled for 

 repose on an unfrequented beach or island, may be heard at a great distance and 

 is then far from being unpleasant. It also emits occasionally a cackling or 

 laughing cry, more mellow than that of the species above named. It searches 

 for food on the open sea, in estuaries, on the beaches, and frequently on the 

 land, sometimes flying to a great distance from the coast. Small fishes, Crus- 

 tacea, echini, shellfish, land mollusca, and earthworms are its habitual food, but 

 it also eats of stranded fishes and devours young birds. When shoals of young 

 herrings are in the bays, creeks, or estuaries it may often be seen in great num- 

 bers, intermingled with other gulls ; but when reposing, whether on the sea or 

 on land, it generally keeps separate in small flocks. 



Doctor Forbes (1898) adds the following: 



Mr. Thompson notes that this gull is very fond of ascending rivers, as well 

 as visiting inland lakes. Several of these birds may be seen, in winter and 

 spring, in the river I>agan as far as the first fall above the sea, where the canal 

 commences, the snowy whiteness and pure black of their plumage contrasting 

 finely with the background of dark foliage of the river banks. On one occa- 

 jjion [continues the same naturalist] I observed an adult bird fishing * * * 

 high up the Lagan, * * * while soon afterwards two immature birds flew 

 up the course of the river until they joined him. They were no doubt the 

 bearers of some particular intelligence, as immediately on their reaching the 

 old bird he wheeled about and the three proceeded with their utmost speed 

 do^\^l the river. In like manner I once observed several of the black-headed 

 gulls feeding in a ploughed field, half a mile from the shore of the bay, whence 

 a single bird flew direct to them ; the moment it arrived they all wheeled 

 about, and, with their best speed, made for the bay, where it was low water 

 at the time. They were not in any way alarmed in the field; the courier 

 seemed to convey some special news. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — The British Isles from the Faroes to the C;han- 

 nel Islands, on the coasts of France and probably Spain; south to 

 Alboran Island off Morocco. From the Scandinavian Peninsula 

 eastward it is represented by another subspecies. 



Winter range. — From the British Isles south to the western Medi- 

 terranean, the Canary and Madeira Islands, and the west coast of 

 Africa. 



Casual records. — The type specimen was taken in Greenland, which 

 is the only North American record. 



