THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



Larus ridibundus PENNANT. 



mim 



HIS interesting and attractive 

 bird, in addition to its ordi- 

 nary appellation, is also 

 known by the names of the 

 Red-legged Gull and Laugh- 

 ing Gull, and is found in 

 large numbers on nearly all 

 the low marshy coasts of 

 England. Its note is a hoarse 

 sort of cry or cackle, which, 

 when rapidly repeated, bears 

 some sort of resemblance to 

 a laugh, hence the name last 

 enumerated. It belongs to 

 the genus Larus, a marine 

 web-footed species distri - 

 buted pretty generally over 

 all portions of the globe. 



The Black-headed Gull 

 may be easily distinguished 

 from the rest of the Gull 

 family by its size, and the 

 very plainly-marked hood of 

 dark-coloured feathers which 



