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species are known to inhabit North America, four of which, viz. 

 L. Rossii, Franklinii, ebernus, and minutus, inhabit the high nor- 

 thern latitudes. L. occidentalis is a denizen of the western side of 

 the continent. Eight species are entitled to a place among " The 

 Birds of Long Island;" and according to Mr. Audubon, L. leucop- 

 terus, ranges during winter from New York to Nova Scotia, but in 

 our locality I have not met with it. 



The Herring Gull is quite a common species, and is found along 

 the whole extent of the Atlantic coast. I have also observed it on 

 Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Michigan, and have met with it 

 on streams in the interior. At low water, with other species, it re- 

 sorts to the bars and shoals, sometimes congregating in such large 

 numbers, as to line the shore for a considerable distance. At the 

 influx of the tide, it passes most of its time in the air, flying around 

 in wide circles, and at times to a very great height. At other times 

 it is observed following the shoals of fry, on which it depends for 

 the greater portion of its support. As is the case with the rest of 

 this class of birds, it is incapable of diving, and can only secure its 

 prey when at the surface, immersing only the head and neck. 



LARUS ATRICILLA— LINN. 



BLACK-HEADED OR LAUGHING GULL. 



Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Larus atricilla, Bonap. Syn. 

 Black-headed Gull, Nutt. Man. 



Specific Character — Bill deep carmine, from the frontlet feathers 

 to the end, one inch and three-eighths, length of tarsi, one inch and 

 three-fourths. Adult male with the head and upper portion of the 

 neck, all around, pale bluish-black ; lower part of the neck, rump, 

 tail, feathers and eyelids, white ; the lower parts of the same color, 

 with a tinge of rose color on the breast, which fades soon after death ; 

 back and wing-coverts, grayish-blue ; outer primaries and their 

 shafts blackish-brown, inner grayish-blue, toward their ends the 

 same as the outer all tipped with white, more distinctly so on the in- 

 ner; secondaries broadly tipped with the same; feet dark-red. 



Autumnal dress. Head white, intermixed with dusky ; hind neck 

 and sides of the neck, light grayish-blue ; throat, breast, and abdo- 



