408 



RICHARDSON'S JAGER. 



coast of New Jersey they make their appearance in the latter part of 

 April, and are soon discovered by their familiarity and noise ; com- 

 panies are even seen at times around the farm house, or coursing 

 along the river shores, attending upon the track of the fishermen 

 for garbage, gleaning among the refuse of the tide ; or scattering 

 over the marshes and plowing fields, they collect, at this season, ar 

 abundant repast of worms, insects and their larvae. Great numbers 

 are also seen collected together to feed upon the prolific spawn of 

 the King-Crab. While thus engaged, if approached, they rise as it 

 were in clouds, at the same time squalling so loudly that the dia 

 "may he heard for two or three miles. 



The Black-Headed Gulls breed in the marshes of New Jersey, but 

 are not seen at this period in New England, and are indeed at all 

 times rare in that quarter. The eggs, three in number, are of a drab 

 or olive grey, thinly marked with small irregular touches of pale 

 purple, and dilute brown. They measure two and a quarter inches 

 by one and a half. Being apparently a somewhat tender species, 

 they retire to the south early in autumn, and on commencing their 

 migrations, if the weather be calm, they are seen to rise up in the 

 air spirally, all loudly chattering as it were in concert, like a flock 

 of cackling hens, the note changing at short intervals into a 'haw, 

 *&a, 'ha, 'ha, 'haw, the final syllable lengthened out into an excessive 

 and broad laugh. After ascending to a considerable height, they 

 all move off', by common consent, in the line of their intended 

 destination. 



RICHARDSON'S JAGER. 



This species, according to Dr. Richardson, breeds in considerable 

 numbers in the 

 Barren Grounds, 

 at a distance from 

 :he coast, in the 

 latitude of about 

 65. It feeds on 

 shelly molusca, 

 which abound in 

 the small lakes of 

 the fur countries: 

 and it harasses 

 the Gulls in the 

 same way with 

 others of the 

 genus. This 

 species is occa 

 sionally seen in 

 winter, in the inland bays in the vicinity of Boston, flying about in 

 pairs, or sitting on the water. 



