KEY TO THE WATER IJIRDS OP^ FLORIDA. 



6i 



LARU5 ATRICILLA Linn. 

 Laughing Gull. 



^ 



Adult in summer : Head and throat plum= 

 beous ; rest of upper parts pearl gray : under 

 parts white ; bill reddish. 



Adult in luintcr : Head white marked with 

 ash gray : throat wliite. 



Length, I6.5O; Wing, 12.5O; Tail, 5 ; Bill, 



I-75- 



This species has a wide breeding 

 range, extending from Maine to the 

 Gulf of Mexico. It is resident and 

 breeds in Florida. The nest is built 

 on the ground in marshy places, and 

 the eggs, usually four or five, are 

 grayish or pale brownish, blotched 

 with chocolate brown. 



LARU5 PHILADELPHIA [Ord). 

 Bonaparte's Gull. 



Adult in summer : Bill black ; head and neck plumbeous ; 

 feet orange red ; tail white. 



Adult in -cL'inter: Head and neck white: top of the head 

 grayish ; feet flesh color. 



-. Immature birds have a white tail with subterminal band of 



black. 



Length, I3.5O : Wing, 10.40 : Tail. 4.15 : Bill. 1.30. 



North America, south in winter to Central 



America and West Indies. Common in Florida 



in winter. Breeds far northward. Xest composed of brush and grass 



built in small trees or bushes. Eggs four, pale olive, marked wnth brown 



spots. 



