142 LAUGHING GULL. 



brings to the mind of the bystander ideas connected with objects altogether 

 different from the simple yet beautiful Laughing Gull. 



April 1, 1837. — South-west pass of the Mississippi. L. Jitricilla abun- 

 dant here at this season, as well as at New Orleans. Saw some floating on 

 logs during a heavy breeze. Not noisy yet, though they and L. zonorhynchus 

 are in full spring dress (the old birds). 



Barataria Bay, April 1837. — This species is abundant, following the 

 porpoises, whilst the latter are fishing, and attending on them, as they do on 

 the Brown Pelicans, which I saw here tormented by these birds, as in the 

 Floridas. These Gulls follow the Brown Pelicans to their roosts, and along 

 with them sit on grounded logs, at some distance from the shores, to avoid 

 the attacks of racoons and other carnivorous animals. 



Galveston Bay, April 26, 1837. — Black-headed Gulls are not unfrequently 

 seen hovering over the inner ponds of these islands, as if in search of food. 

 They are now all paired, and very noisy. 



May 4. — I observed to-day that at the single cry of a Black-headed Gull, 

 all others within hearing at once came towards the caller, and this never failed 

 when any of them had found floating garbage on which to feed. These, as 

 well as all other Gulls, pat the water with their feet, their legs being partially 

 extended, whilst assisting themselves with the bill to pick up any floating 

 food. At this time the whole group emit a more plaintive single note than 

 usual. They come not unfrequently within a few yards of our vessel at 

 anchor, and when the food thrown to them is exhausted, they separate, and 

 at once renew their repeated cries. I observed that the few immature birds 

 among the old ones, were quite silent even when in the company of the 

 adults. When the young are nearly able to fly, they are by no means bad 

 eating. 



Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ix. p. 89. 



Larus atricilla, Bonap. S) r n., p. 359. 



Black-headed Gull, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 291. 



Black-headed or Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 118. 



Adult, 17, 40f. 



Most abundant from Texas to Massachusetts, breeding along the coast. 

 Up the Mississippi to New Orleans. Those which in spring remove to the 

 eastward of the Floridas return early in autumn. 



Adult Male in spring. 



Bill rather shorter than the head, nearly straight, moderately stout, 

 compressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight to the middle, 

 then curved and declinate, the ridge convex, the sides rapidly sloping, the 



