The Bonaparte Gull 



Like most pygmies, 

 the Bonapartes are very 

 sociable creatures, and 

 they not only foregather 

 with their fellows to the 

 number of thousands, 

 but they associate more 

 or less in flocks at all 

 times, and are so often 

 moved by common im- 

 pulse that they merit 

 the name"Sea Pig- 

 eons," frequently ap- 

 plied to them . I n 

 spring Bonaparte is the 

 very devil of a fellow, 

 and would be set down 

 at sight as a lady-killer, 

 were it not for the fact 

 that his good wife, pres- 

 ent or prospective, is 

 similarly attired. You 

 see, by way of prepara- 

 tion for nuptials, this 

 bird thrusts its head half 

 way into a pot of black 

 paint. And because the 

 paint is very black (Oh, 

 well, "plumbeous slate," 

 then; but that is black 

 enough, surely) he shuts 

 his eyes very tight and 

 saves a space above and 

 below untouched by the pigment. And then he, or she, bears upon the 

 breast at this season a rosy blush, which alone would be enough to pro- 

 claim the nearness of mating time. 



When the Bonapartes return, however, reaching, as they do, our 

 northern borders late in July, they are doffing their black head gear, and 

 they soon look as babyish and innocent as ever. 



Birds of this species have no liking for the steerage fare afforded by 

 the cities, but they gather extensively upon the tide-flats, where the}' 

 pursue marine worms and tiny crustaceans. They are not less fond of 



Taken in Santa Barbc 



A WATERFRONT SPECIMEN 



Photo by the Author 



1425 



