THE COMMON AMERICAN GULL. 153 



our great streams, and many return thither during the spring months on their 

 way northward. Nay, to some species of Tern, the beautiful sand-bars and 

 rocky beaches that occur here and there, are so attractive as to induce a few 

 to remain and breed there. This is especially the case with the Black Terns, 

 some of which rear their young by the rapids of the Ohio below Louisville, 

 amidst the roaring sounds of which may be heard their shrill and continued 

 cries. 



You must not suppose, however, that all the Gulls which migrate in that 

 country take the same route; for thousands follow the sinuosities of our 

 Atlantic coast, some of them perhaps proceeding as far south in that direc- 

 tion as those which follow our rivers. My opinion is, that the feebler indi- 

 viduals of the different species follow the inland route, while the older and 

 more hardy birds keep along the shores of the ocean. The examination of 

 numerous specimens on both of these extensive tracks has almost rendered 

 this a matter of certainty, yet I should be much pleased to find this opinion 

 corroborated by the observations of any other student of nature. 



While on the coast of Florida, in the winter of 1S32-33, I every day saw 

 Gulls of many species, but among them all were no adult birds, with the 

 exception of the Black-headed Gull of Wilson, which was very abundant. 

 This greatly tended to strengthen my opinion, that the young Gulls are of 

 more delicate constitution than their parents, which are better enabled to 

 stand the rigours of the winter in the Middle States, where they are found 

 equally abundant at that season. For similar reasons, I also feel assured that 

 the oldest birds are those which go farthest north to breed, and that the older 

 and stronger individuals are larger, with more purely tinted plumage, and 

 with the colours of their legs, feet and bills, as well as of the circle around 

 the eye, more vivid than those which, although found breeding, yet have 

 not acquired their full maturity. In consequence of these circumstances, 

 some species have been described as forming several, and the great difference 

 between the plumage of the young and the old birds has led to similar errors. 



Our Common Gull is seldom seen in the adult plumage of winter beyond 

 the shores of Maryland southward, or in full summer plumage beyond the 

 Bay of New York, and this rarely after the middle of April, as at that period 

 they gather into flocks, and remove farther north to breed. The places to 

 which this species resorts for that purpose, and which I have visited, are 

 several islands between Boston and Eastport, another close to Grand Manan 

 at the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, the great Gannet Rock of the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, and certain rocky isles in the deep bays on the coast of 

 Labrador. 



This species, although one of those most abundant on our coast, is so well 

 acquainted with the artifices of man, that it keeps more than others beyond 

 Vol. VII. 23 



