346 



VEllTEBRATA. 



larvic wliicli, in the vernal season, tlio bounty of nature provides for the sustenance of myriads 

 of the featljored rai-c. 



"( »n the .Icrsev side of l)i'lawarc liay, in tlic iiL'ighborliood of Fishing Creek, about the middle 

 of Mav, the J'.Iack-hiaded (lulls assemble in great multitudes, to feed upon the remains of the 

 kill" crabs which the hogs have k*ft, or upon the spawn wlncli those curious animals deposit in 

 the sanil, and whicli is scattered along the shore by the waves. At such times, if any one ap- 

 proach to disturb them, the (lulls will rise up in clouds, every individual squalling so loud that 

 the ri>ar may be heard at the distance of two or three miles. 



"It is an interesting spectacle to beliold this species when about recommencing their migra- 

 tions. If the weather be calm, they will rise up in the air, spirally, chattering all the while to 

 each otlier in the most spriglitly manner, their notes at such times resembling the singing of a 

 hen, but far louder, changing often into a hau', ha, ha, ha, haw/ the last syllable lengthened out 

 like the excessive laugh of a negro. \Vhen mounting and mingling together, like motes in the 

 sunbeams, their black heads and wing-tips, and snow-white plumage, give them a very beautiful 

 appearance. After gaining an immense height, they all move off, with one consent, in a direct 

 line toward the point of their destination. 



"This bird breeds in the marshes. The eggs arc three in number, of a dun clay color, thinly 

 marked with small, irregular touches of a pale purple, and pale brown ; some are of a deeper dun, 

 with larger marks, and less tapering than others ; the egg measures two inches and a quarter by 

 one inch and a half." 



Other species are as follows: Sabine's Gull, L. Sablni: Bonaparte's Gull, L. Bonapartii: 



the Maskkd Gull, L. cajns- 

 tratus: the American Gull, 

 L. zonorrhynchus and canus: 

 the Kittiwake Gull, L. tri- 

 dactylus : the Ivory Gull, 

 L. eburneus : the Iceland 

 Gull, L. Islandicus: the 

 Herring Gull, L.argentatus : 

 the Cuneate-tailed Gull, L. 

 Hossii ; and the Glaucous 

 GuLh, L.fflaucus : all found in 

 Europe and North America. 

 The LesserBlack-backed 

 Gull, L.fuscus, and the Lit- 

 tle Gull, L. minutus, belong 

 to Europe. 



Besides the preceding, the 

 Smithsonian Catalogue has the following: the Glaucous-winged Gull, L. glaucescens: the 

 White-winged Gull, L. Iciicopterus : the Gray-winged Gull, L. chalcopterus : the Western 

 Gull, L. occidentalis : the California Gull, L. Californicus : the Ring-billed Gull, L. Dela- 

 ware nsis : and Suckley's Gull, L. SiicMcyi: all found in American waters. 



Genus LESTRIS : Lestris. — This includes several species of gulls, to which the name of Squu 

 is given. The Common Skua, L, cataractcs, is twenty-four inches long; dark brown above; 

 clove-brown beneath. It is an active, vigorous, and daring bird, and is constantly occupied in 

 harassing the true gulls, which are of a more listless and timid nature. When it sees one of them 

 has captured a fish, it makes a fierce attack, and obliges it, through fear, to disgorge its prey, upon 

 which the skua darts upon it and seizes it before it roaches the water. This bird does not asso- 

 ciate in groups, but lives in pairs; it breeds on the rocks, and lays three eggs. It is found through- 

 out the seas of Northern Europe. 



Other species are the Pomerine Skua, L. pomar'mus : Richardson's Skua, L. Richardsonii : 

 Buffon's Skua, L. Buffonii : all found in Europe and America. 



The following allied species are given in the Smithsonian Catalogue : the White-headed Gull, 





THE MASKED GULL. 



