THE BROWN-HEADED GULL 281 



like a Swallow's than that of the Common Tern, and in size it does 

 not so very much exceed the Swift as to make the comparison out- 

 rageous. A shrimp it can undoubtedly catch ; and it exercises 

 its vocation in shallow water, such as shrimps alone inhabit or 

 small fish no larger than shrimps. 



Like the other Terns it is migratory, repairing year after year 

 to low flat shores on various parts of the coast, arriving in May, 

 and departing in September for some climate subject to no cold 

 severe enough to banish small marine animals to deep water. The 

 Lesser Tern makes no nest, but lays its eggs, generally two. among 

 the shingle. 



Sub-Family LARINtE 

 THE LITTLE GULL 



LARUS MINUTUS 



Summer — head and neck black ; lower part of the neck, tail, all the under 

 plumage, white ; upper plumage pale ash-grey ; primaries white at the 

 end ; bill reddish brown ; irides dark ; legs vermilion. IVintey — fore- 

 head, front and sides of the neck white ; nape and cheeks white, streaked 

 with greyish black. Length eleven inches. 



This, the smallest of the Gulls, comes sometimes in numbers to the 

 British coast. It is said to be remarkably active and graceful in 

 its movements through the air, and to associate with Terns. Its 

 food consists of marine insects and small fish. Its breeding-place 

 and eggs are unknown. As a rule it leaves us in September or 

 early in October. 



THE BROWN-HEADED GULL 



LARUS RIDIBUNDUS 



Summer — head and upper part of the neck deep brown ; lower part of the 

 neck and all the under plumage white, slightly tinged with rose ; upper 

 plumage bluish ash ; primaries white, edged with ash, and broadly tipped 

 with black; irides brown ; bill and feet red, with a purple tinge. In winter 

 the head and neck are white ; bill and feet bright vermilion. In young 

 birds the hood is pale brown ; the upper plumage dark brown, mottled 

 at the edges of the feathers with yellowish ; bill livid at the base, the 

 tip black; feet yellowish. Length seventeen inches. Eggs olive, spotted 

 with brown and dusky. 



Black-Headed, Black-Cap, Brown-Headed, Red-Legged, and 

 Pewit, are all common distinctive names of this Gull, to which 

 may be added that of Laughing Gull. The latter name is, indeed, 

 often given to the next species, a rare bird, and might with equal 

 propriety be applied to several other species, whose harsh cry 



