LAUGHING GULL 



PLATE CCXXIII. FIGURE I. 

 Larus atricilla, . . . . MONTAGU. FLEMING. 



THE Laughing Gull, says Saunders, was added to the 

 British list by Montagu in error, as indicated by his 

 description of the bird obtained at Winchelsea. It is an 

 American species which builds in marshy places near the 

 sea-shore. Meyer asserts that during fine weather this 

 bird sits on the eggs only at night, leaving the breeding- 

 place early in the morning for the purpose of feeding ; but 

 that, when the weather is wet or cold, she remains on the 

 eggs, and takes care of them also during the day. 



The nest is made of dry grass and sea-weeds, arranged to 

 a height of two or three inches, the interior being from four 

 and a half to five inches wide, and one and a half deep. 



Audubon mentions a curious instance of two nests being 

 built as it were into one ; each pair of birds, both male and 

 female, living in the closest companionship, in both senses 

 of the word. In some instances the sand alone is hollowed 

 into a nest. 



The eggs are three in number at the most ; their usual 

 colour is brownish olive, spotted and blotted with dull 

 reddish brown, the said markings being most numerous about 

 the larger end. They are considered very good to eat. 



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