Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 3 



lina, but I have observed numbers in February off the mouth of 

 the St. John's River, Florida. 

 The Long-tailed Jaeger breeds in the Arctic regions. 



FAMILY LARID^: GULLS AND TERNS. 



7. Larus argentatus Pont. Herring Gull. 



With the exception of the Laughing Gull (L. atricilla), 

 this is the most abundant of all the gulls which frequent the 

 harbor of Charleston during the autumn, winter, and spring 

 months. Herring Gulls are valuable scavengers, and hundreds 

 can be seen daily from October until May, feeding upon the 

 refuse matter along the wharves. 



In North America, this species breeds from Maine to the Arctic 

 regions. 



8. Larus delawarensis Ord. Ring-billed Gull. 



This species is an abundant autumn, winter, and late spring 

 visitant, and, like the Herring Gull, is commonly seen about the 

 wharves in Charleston Harbor. It appears to migrate later in 

 the spring than most gulls, for I have observed many birds as 

 late as the middle of May. 



The Ring-billed Gull breeds from the northern United States 

 northward. 



9. Larus atricilla Linn. Laughing Gull. 



The Laughing Gull generally arrives from the north as early as 

 August 13, and winters abundantly. All through the winter 

 these birds can be heard uttering their weird notes, no matter 

 what temperatures prevail. 



Audubon says of this species: ^ 



The Black-headed Gull may be said to be a constant resident [i. e. breeds] 

 along the southern coast of the United States, from South Carolina to the Sa- 

 bine River; and I have found it abundant over all that extent both in winter 

 and in summer. 



Audubon was in error in supposing that this species bred in 

 this state ; in fact, no species of gull breeds in South Carolina^ 

 and he was doubtless misled by seeing birds in late summer. 



By the third week in April, most of these birds have acquired 

 their beautiful nuptial plumage, and, at that season, the under 



> Birds of America, VII, 137. 



