94 



LAUGHING AND KITTIWAKE GULLS— AUK— VELVET AND HARLEQUIN DUCKS. 



stroked upon the back with the hand. Even the houses are covered 

 with nests, the window embrasures and the turf-slopes of the roof fur- 

 nishing resting-places for these birds. Walls are built on the coasts, 

 and grassy banks cut up like a chess-board for their accommodation. 

 But two eggs are left for hatching, the balance being taken and 

 pickled for winter consumption. 



Laughing Gull. (Larus atricilla^) 



Fig. 2. 



The Laughing Gull is put down by Wheaton as among the. birds 

 of Ohio. In the summer it reaches the Atlantic coasts as far north 

 as Maine. It is known on the Pacific coast north to California, on 

 both coasts of Central America, the various West Indies, and is 

 casual in Europe. It nests in marshes, making a loose structure 

 of sea-weeds and grasses two or three inches high and three times 

 as wide, and lays from two to three eggs. These vary from an 

 olivaceous-drab to a grayish-green, spotted and blotched more or 

 less thickly with different shades of brown and purple, and measure 

 about 2.28 by 1.65 inches. Their food consists of fish, mollusks, 

 Crustacea, and the eggs and young of some of the Terns. They 

 congregate in immense numbers, flocks of over a thousand being 

 frequently seen. A peculiarity of this bird is that during the 

 breeding senson the white plumage of the under parts receives a 

 rosy tint. Coues poetically says: "Nature blushes, filling the 

 bird's breast with amorous imagery, till the feathers catch a glow 

 and reflect the blush. Burning with inward fire, the whole frame 

 thrills with the enthusiasm of sexual vigor. The dark glittering 

 eye is encircled with a fiery ring ; now it flashes defiance at a rival, 

 now tenderly melts at sight of its mate." When the love-season 

 is over the rosy plumage fades back to white, and the bird, dull- 

 colored, ragged, seems to lose all ambition beyond the satisfaction 

 of a gluttonous appetite. The name is derived from its joyous 

 twitter, which in the vernal season takes on the sound of a laugh. 



Razor-billed Auk — Tinker. (Alca torda^ 



Fig- 3- 



This well-known species is quite abundant on the North Atlantic 

 coast of North America, and is probably identical with the bird of 

 the northern regions of Europe. It wanders to the South in the 

 winter, and is occasionally seen on the coasts of the Middle States. 

 Audubon tells us of the picturesque sight they present in flying, 

 first turning the white of their bellies and then the black of their 

 backs to the spectator. They are, however, more frequently seen 

 swimming than flying, and if pursued, apparently do not take 

 alarm until approached within a few feet, when they dive, but only 

 to reappear very soon at a short distance. In breeding they do 

 not build a nest, laying their eggs, or rather egg, on the shingle 

 of the beach. This egg is generally pure white, greatly blotched 

 with spots of dark reddish-brown, ~and measuring about 3.12 by 2.10 

 inches, and is said to be excellent eating. The food of the Razorbill 

 consists of small fish, shrimps, and various marine animals, includ- 

 ing roe. When one is killed, its mate paddles around it seemingly 

 in wonder that it does not dive or fly away, and at such times it 

 may be approached and knocked over with an oar. Constant men- 

 tion of this bird is made by Dr. Kane, to whom, on his last voyage, 

 they became an absolute necessity, as they are to the poor savages 

 of the Arctic regions. 



Velvet Duck— White-winged Coot. (Melanetta vehetina.) 



Fig. 4. 



This bird is common to both continents, is found all along both 

 the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to the north, and has also been ob- 



served on Lakes Erie and Michigan. It reaches the shores of the 

 Middle States in September, often proceeding as far south as 

 Georgia. In the beginning of April immense flocks congregate 

 together, and in bands of from twenty to thirty individuals return 

 to their northern breeding places. The nests, according to Audu- 

 bon, are placed within a few feet of the borders of small lakes, a 

 mile or two distant from the sea, and usually under the low boughs 

 of the bushes, of the twigs of which, with mosses and various 

 plants matted together, they are formed. These nests are large, 

 lined with feathers from the birds themselves, and contain when 

 ready for incubation six eggs. These are of a uniform cream color, 

 tinged with green, and measure about 2.75 by 1.87 inches. The 

 flight of the Velvet Duck is strong and sustained, and never at any 

 great height unless when pursued by gunners. They swim with 

 great buoyancy, and are expert divers. Their food consists of small 

 fish, Crustacea, shell-fish, spawn and sea-weeds. The flesh is 

 strong and oily ; notwithstanding it is sometimes used as an article 

 of food. 



Harlequin Duck. {Histrionicus torquatus.) 

 Fig. 5- 



This Duck is an inhabitant of the northern coast of North 

 America, is rarely found as far south as Long Island, has been ob- 

 served on Lakes Erie and Michigan, and is a casual visitor on the 

 coast of England. It is a very shy and vigilant bird, and dives 

 beneath the water at the least approach of danger ; even when on 

 the wing, at the first flash of the sportsman's gun, plunging into 

 the waves beneath. It is usually found in flocks of from twelve to 

 fifteen, one of whom always acts the part of a sentinel. It breeds 

 in Newfoundland and Labrador, where it selects some small lake 

 a mile or so inland and builds its nest on its margin. This nest is 

 composed of dry plants of various kinds, arranged in a circular 

 manner and lined with fine grasses. The eggs are from four to 

 six, plain yellowish-green in color, and measuring about 2.08 by 

 1.46 inches. After the eggs are laid, the female plucks the down 

 from her breast after the manner of the Eider Duck, for the pur- 

 pose of protecting them. The male entirely deserts his mate as 

 soon as incubation commences, and when the young are hatched 

 the mother leads them to water and carefully teaches them how to 

 dive, by a slight note warning them of coming danger. The food 

 of this Duck consists of small fish, roe, shrimps, mollusks, and 

 aquatic insects. The flesh is very dark, has a strong fishy taste, 

 and is not much esteemed as an article of food. 



PLATE LXVI. 



Kittiwake Gull. {Larus tridactylus.) 



Fig. 1. 



This beautiful Gull is common to the Arctic regions of both hemi- 

 spheres, migrating south in winter as far as the Middle States, and 

 according to Ridgeway and Wheaton, it occurs on Lake Michigan. 

 It prefers the open seas to estuaries, except during the time of in- 

 cubation, when it resorts to high cliffs such as the Raven would 

 naturally seek, where it builds a nest out of sea-weeds and coarse 

 grasses, and which with additions and slight reconstructions is used 

 from year to year. The eggs are three in number, the form usu- 

 ally ovoidal, in color creamy-drab with a very slight olivaceous 

 tint, and measuring about 2.20 by 1.60 inches. The young birds 

 remain in their airy nest until fully fledged, when with their parents 

 they disperse over the neighboring seas. Upon land the Kittiwake 

 makes a very awkward appearance, but in the air or when swim- 

 ming, but few birds surpass it in buoyancy, grace, and ease of 



