38 



24. Larus atricilla. Laughing Gull. 



Now a rare summer resident; formerly abundant. Recent 

 records are June 15 (Amityville) and Sept. 2 (Rockaway). At 

 the former date the species was beheved to be nesting. 



25. Larus Philadelphia. Bonaparte's Gull. 



Regular winter visitor. Nov. 18 (Rockaway) to May 11 

 (Rockaway). 



Called "Sea Pigeon" on Long Island. They seem erratic 

 as regards their arrival and departure. They almost in- 

 variably occur with us in flocks of considerable size, their 

 sudden appearance or their absence bearing no apparent 

 relation to weather conditions but probably dependent on the 

 abundance of small fish in our waters. They occur at any time 

 throughout the winter. A large flock, strung out laterally, 

 in rapid flight, each individual seemingly striving to outdo the 

 others, is an occasional animating sight on our bays. 



26. Larus minutus. Little Gull. 



This European representative of the gull family has been 

 recorded twice from Long Island, these constituting the only 

 two records for North America as well. They are. Fire Island, 

 about Sept. 15, 1897 (Butcher, Auk, v, 1888, p. 171) and 

 Rockaway Beach, May 10, 1902 (Braislin, Auk, xx, 1903, p. 52). 



27. Xema sabinii. Sabine's Gull. 



Casual on Long Island. Recorded from Raynor South, 

 in|the month of July, 1837 (Giraud, Birds of L. L, p. 363), 

 and again on Gardiner's Bay, Shelter Island, Oct. 6, 1899 

 (Worthington, Auk, xvii, 1900, p. 63). 



28. Gelochelidon nilotica. Gull-billed or Marsh Tern. 

 Rare autumnal visitor. Nesting as far north as Virginia, 



it sometimes wanders northward. Recent records are. South 

 Oyster Bay, July 4, 1882 and Shinnecock Bay, July 8, 1884 

 (Butcher, Auk, i, 1884, p. 4, and ii, 1885, p. 38). 



