LARID^E. 289 



of a pale bluish or greenish ground-colour, small in size, 

 and spotted with grey, brown, and black ; but no informa- 

 tion is furnished with regard to the original locality from 

 whence they were obtained. 



THE LAUGHING GULL. Larus atricilla. In Great Bri- 

 tain this is even a rarer visitant than the last species. It is 

 properly a North- American species, and Mr. Audubon found 

 it breeding on the Tortuga Keys, New Jersey; at Galveston, 

 in Texas; and at Great-egg Harbour: at the latter place on 

 the borders of a salt-marsh near the sea-shore. Marshy 

 places near the sea-shore appear to be the usual breeding- 

 places of the species, and in such situations the nest is con- 

 structed of dry grass and seaweeds; in some instances, 

 however, the sand alone is hollowed out to form a nest. 

 The eggs, which do not exceed three in number, are of a 

 brownish olive- colour, spotted and blotted with dull red- 

 dish-brown. 



BONAPARTIAN GULL. Larus BonapartU. This Gull is 

 common in all parts of the fur countries, where it associates 

 with the Terns, and is distinguished by its peculiar shrill 

 and plaintive cry : it has also been received from Green- 

 land. The first specimen of this beautiful species which 

 was known to have visited Europe, was killed near Belfast, 



u 



