562 FORKED-TAILED GULL. 



the southward in August. Specimens procured in June and July corres- 

 ponded exactly with the one described below. When newly killed, they 

 all had a delicate pink blush on their under plumage. The eggs, two in 

 number, are deposited on the bare ground, and are hatched in the last 

 week of July. They are an inch and a half in length, and have an olive 

 colour with many brown blotches." 



At the approach of autumn, it frequently happens that several species 

 of gulls associate together, and at times congregate in great numbers on 

 the outer margins of sand-bars and in the large estuaries. There they 

 keep up a constant cackling, run about, dress their plumage, and await 

 the rising of the waters. If disturbed at such times, they shew greater 

 shyness than perhaps at any other. One of the oldest birds sounds an 

 alarm, and all simultaneously take to wing, disperse, and gradually rise 

 to a great elevation, flying in wide circles, and moving seaward. I have 

 thought it remarkable that these birds seldom shun the fishermen, while 

 towards any one bearing the semblance of a gunner they act with extreme 

 caution. Although loquacious when congregated, they are when separated 

 quite silent, especially when on wing. In squally and rainy weather they 

 skim low over the water or the land, always against the wind. They are 

 very tenacious of life, and often, when wounded, revive after you had con- 

 sidered them incapable of breathing. The instant they are caught they are 

 wont to mute and eject the contents of their stomach, as well as when sud- 

 denly compelled to take to wing, or when pursued by predaceous birds. 

 In particular states of the weather they appear at a distance much larger 

 than they really are, and, on such occasions, they also seem much nearer, 

 so that the gunner is greatly deceived, and may shoot at them when too 

 far off. 



Larus Sabini, Sabine, (J.) Linn. Trans, vol. xii. p. 520. pi. 29. 



Lahus Sabinii, Fork-tailed Gull, Swains, and Richards. Fauna Bor. Amer. 



part ii. p. 428. 

 Fork-tailed Gull, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 295. 



Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXV. Fig. 1. 



Bill rather shorter than the head, nearly straight, rather slender, com- 

 pressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal line straight to the middle, then 

 curved and declinate, the ridge convex, the sides slightly convex, the 

 edges sharp and inflected, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal groove rather 



