NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



35 





58. Laughing Gull. Larus atricilla. 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding from the Gulf to Nova Scotia, 

 chiefly on the coast. A beautiful Gull, 16 inches long, .with a dark slate colored 



head, gray mantle, black primaries, 

 and white neck, underparts and tail. 

 Bill and feet red. This bird has its 

 name from its peculiar laughing cry 

 when alarmed or angry; it is also 

 called the Black-headed Gull. They 

 nest by thousands on the islands off 

 the Gulf Coast and along the South 

 Atlantic States. The nest is placed on 

 the ground and is made of seaweed. 

 Three, four and sometimes five eggs 

 are laid, of a grayish to greenish brown 

 color, marked with brown and lilac. 

 Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data. Timbalin Is., 

 La., June 3, 1896. Three eggs. Nest 

 [Pale grayish brown.] of drift grass thrown in a pile about 



8 inches high, slightly hollowed on top, in low marsh back of beach. Collector, 

 E. A. Mcllhenny. 



59. Franklin Gull. Larus franklini. 

 Range. Interior North America, 



breeding from middle United 

 States northward. 



Like the last but smaller and 

 with the primaries light. Under- 

 parts rosy in breeding season. 

 Nests very abundantly in the 

 marshes of Minnesota and north- 

 ward. Nest made of grasses and 

 placed in the marsh grass barely 

 above the surface of the water. 

 Eggs same color as the last but the 

 markings more inclined to zigzag 

 lines. Size 2.10 x 1.40. Data. 

 Heron Lake, Minn., May 26, 1885. 

 Nest of wet sedge stalks and rub- 

 bish placed in a bunch of standing sedge in shallow water; at 

 and birds in rookery. Collector, J. W. Preston. 



60. Bonaparte Gull. Larus Philadelphia. 



Range. Breeds in the northern parts of 



^ North America; winters from Maine and 



British Columbia to the southern border 

 of the United States. 



Smaller than the last; 14 inches long. 

 Plumage similar, but bill slender and 

 black. They nest in great numbers on 

 the marshes of Manitoba and to the 

 northward. The nests of sticks and grass 

 are placed on the higher parts of the 

 marsh and the usual complement of 

 three eggs is laid during the latter part of 

 June. The eggs are grayish to greenish 

 brown, marked with dark brown and 

 lilac. Size 1.90 x 1.30. 



[Grayish brown.J 



least five thous- 



(Pale grayish brown.J 



