580 LAEID^E. 



tivity. They alighted on the water instantly that a wave 

 had broken, remained there a few seconds, and, when a 

 succeeding wave seemed on the point of breaking over 

 them and overwhelming them, clapped their wings two or 

 three times, rose just far enough to allow the wave to pass 

 under them without moistening their beautiful dove- 

 coloured wings, but no farther, and alighted again to be 

 disturbed in like manner by the next breaker. As we 

 drew near they all flew away, and we could discover 

 nothing where their keen eyes had probably detected food 

 in abundance. 



The resumption of the brown head takes place in spring, 

 and is not a moult, but a change of colour without the 

 shedding of a feather. 



A writer in the Zoologist * states that he has observed 

 these birds in the summer evenings hawking for flies with 

 a motion like that of the Swallows ; and a similar instance is 

 recorded by Yarrell on the authority of the Rev. R Lubbock. 



THE LAUGHING GULL. 



LAEUS ATRICILLA. 



Head and upper part of the neck dark lead-grey; lower part of the neck 

 and all the under plumage white ; upper, lead-grey ; quills black, reaching 

 beyond the tail ; bill and feet deep red. Length eighteen inches. Eggs 

 earthy olive, blotched and spotted with dull reddish brown and black. 



THE principal mark of distinction between this and the 

 preceding species is that Larus atricilla, in summer, has 

 a lead-coloured head, L. ridibundits a dark brown head. 

 The present bird is of very rare occurrence in the British 

 Isles ; indeed, it has not been seen for many years, so that 

 the notices in books on natural history of the Laughing 

 Gull are to be received with caution, having reference, no 

 doubt, to the other species. The true Laughing Gull is 

 an American bird, and is said also to be frequently met 

 with in the Mediterranean. In habits and mode of breed- 

 ing it resembles the Black-headed Gull. 

 * Vol. i. p. 216. 



