744 



THE BONAPARTE GULL. 



Ranjje in W'ashinjjton. — .\l)uiiilMnt coasiwisr iluriiii; ini^ratinn^ : returns to 

 Sc'iiiiahnii " 1 \\;i\' in large numbers alioul August 20; spjaringly re'^ident in winter. 



Authorities. — Chroicoccplialiis philadclpliia I.awr.. Lawrence, Rep. I'ac. 

 R. R. Surv. iX. 185S, p. S3^v C&S. I.'. Rli. |1)'.| Kk. !'.. E. 



Specimens. — ( L'. nt \\.\ Pruv. J'>. E. 



A MORE peaceful scene coukl scarcely be conjured u]) by the imagina- 

 tion than that of a company of Bonaparte Ciulls resting at higli tide. Some 

 sixtv of them sit before me now on a miniature booni of radiating logs, and 1 

 am spying on them from the shelter of a deserted cannery. The windward 

 logs break tlie force of the tiny waves which are running before a gentle 

 ])reeze, and pro\-ide an oasis of calm. In this glassy space a few birds, mostly 

 late comers, are bathing and otherwise disporting themsehes; but most of the 

 company sit jilacidly u]ion the logs in dainty r()ws. or doze with head tucked 

 under \ying, A few Terns, hardh' distinguishable at this distance fr<im their 

 scjuare-tailecl kinsmen, are allowed to share this ha\-en of refuge, and no dis- 

 tinctions of courtes)- are made. Now and then there is a little jostling, as 

 some newcomer, fresh from his bath, demands admission to the ranks, and 

 a s(|nabl)le in low-pitched tones, not unlike the grunting of little ])igs. ensues; 

 but the difhcultv is soon adjusted and peace reigns supreme. 



Like most pygmies, the lionaparles are \-ery 

 sociable creatures, and they not only foregather with 

 their fell(jws to the number of thousands, but 

 they associate more or less in ilocks at all times, 

 and are so often moved by common imjiulse that 

 thev merit the name "Sea Pigeons," 

 fretjuenth' a]>plied to them. 

 In spring Bonaparte is the 

 \-ery deyil of a fel- 

 low, and would be 

 set down at sight as 

 a lady-killer, were 

 it not for the fact 

 that his good Avife, 

 ]5resent or ]5rospec- 

 li\'e, is sitnilarh- at- 

 tired. Vou see, Ijy 



way of preparation for nuptials, this bird thrusts its head h;df-way into a i)ot 

 of black paint. .\nd because the paint is yery black (Oh, well, "plumbeous 

 slate," then: but that is black enough, surely) he shuts bis eyes very tight and 

 sayes a space ahoye and lielow untouclied b\ tlie pigment. .\nd llien he. or 

 site, bears ujion tlie breast at this season a ro^y lihisli. which alone would be 

 enough to ]iroclaim the ne.nrncss nf m;iting time. 



Tnkcn at Bhiinc. I'lioto by the Author. 



'•PKACK i<i:ii;,\s sLU'Ki^.Mi:." 



