LAUGHTNG GULL. 



291 



back, scapulars, and wing- coverts, margined with grey ; breast, belly, 

 and sides, blotched irregularly with large black and white patches ; 

 vent, upper and under tail coverts, white ; quills dusky ; the primores 

 cinereous on the outer webs ; tail dusky black, more or less margined 

 with white ; the outer ones almost wholly white ; legs and feet orange. 



We have found this species in general more plentiful than the Bean 

 Goose. 



It visits the fenny parts of this country in small flocks in winter ; is 

 killed on the coast, as well as on our rivers, in severe weather ; and not 

 uncommonly brought to market and sold for the common Wild Goose. 



It retires northward to breed about the month of March. Inhabits 

 the north of Europe and Asia in summer ; is frequent in Siberia and 

 part of Russia ; common at Hudson's Bay. 



LAUGHING GULL (Larus ridibundus, Leisler.) — [See 

 Hooded Gull.] 



* Larus cinerarius, GmeL Syst. 1. 597. 4 — Larus procellosus, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 



4. p. 647 Red-legged Gull, Lath. Syn. 6. p. 381. 10. and var Venn. Arct. 



Zool. 2. p. 533 Brown Headed Gull, Lath. Syn. 6. 383 — Sterna obscura, 



Brown Tern, Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 810. 25. and Syn. 6. p. 368 — -Brown Gull, 

 Lath. Syn. Supp. 2. 311. 1. — Larus erythropus, Gmel. 1. p. 597. 15. 



YOUNG. 



Larus ridibundus, Gmel. 1. 601. 9 Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 811. 2 Black-beaded 



Gull, Penn. Br. Zool. L. 5 Lath. Syn. 6. p. 380.— Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 



780 Mont. Linn. Trans. 7. p. 284 Flem. Br. Anim. p. 141. 



Provincial. — Pewit. Blackcap. Sea-Crow. Rickmire. Hooded Maw. 



Red Legs.* 



Length fifteen, breadth thirty-seven inches ; weight ten ounces. 

 Bill and feet rich vermilion. Irides hazel ; round the eyes a few white 

 feathers. Lower part of the neck, tail, and belly white ; the back 

 and wings grey ; primores white, the first with the outer margin black ; 

 the second tipped with black, and marked with a black spot on the 

 inner web. In winter the head is white, with a black patch on the 

 ear, and another in front of the eyes ; under the wing blackish grey. 

 Female similar. Nest, according to Wilson, in meadows and islands 

 in fresh water lakes. Eggs three, olive, with dusky blotches. It 

 leaves Scotland in winter, but is a permanent resident in England. 



These birds appear to be subject to great variety either from age 

 or from change of season, and in those changes they have been de- 

 scribed as different species. The Red-legged Gull of authors is only 

 this bird before it is arrived at maturity ; and there seems no doubt 

 but the old birds lose the black on the head in the winter, and do not 

 assume it again till the breeding season ; but there is generally a little 

 black about the ears ; the bill and legs also lose their bright colour. 



We have seen hundreds of these birds together in the winter, but 



u 2 



