KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



193 



LARUS ATRICILLA Linn. 

 Laughing Gull. 



Adult in snninier : Head and throat plum- 

 beous ; rest of upper parts pearl gray ; under 

 parts white ; bill reddish. 



Adult in wititer : Head white marked with 

 ash gray ; throat white. 



Length, I6.5O; Wing, I2.5O; 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 live, are 

 grayish or pale brownish, blotched 

 with chocolate brown. 



LARU5 PHILADELPHIA {Ord). 

 Bonaparte's QuII. 



^^1^^^ Adult in suvuiier : Bill black ; head and neck plumbeous ; 



^^^^^^^^B^^^^ *®®t orange red ; tail white. 



'^VHI^[^^^^B|^^^^^ Adult in winter : Head and neck white; top of the head 



^^^^^^^^^ipr grayish feet flesh color. 



^^BHPI^^ V, Immature birds have a white tail with subterminal band of 



T "" black. 



I 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. Nest composed of brush and grass 



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



spots. 



