LAUGHING GULL. 293 



rusty brown blotches. It is found in Russia and Siberia, and inhabits 

 North America. 



* We have now and then observed this species on the coast of Devon, 

 with the full dark coloured plumage on the head, but never in the 

 winter ; and are assured that they continue to breed in great numbers 

 in Shropshire. It is very remarkable, that a bird bearing- such strong 

 marks as the Laughing Gull, in all its changes, from the nestling to the 

 adult plumage, should have been multiplied into so many species, as 

 the superior whiteness of many of the prime quill feathers, especially 

 on the outer webs, and greater coverts, immediately over them, are 

 very conspicuous when the wings are extended, an obvious distin- 

 guishing mark from all others, even when flying. 



In order to elucidate this subject more clearly, we shall here subjoin 

 a description of the several changes, incident to the varieties of the 

 bird, from the time it first appears on our shores, after having quitted its 

 place of nidification ; tracing it through the various changes still it arrives 

 at full maturity, which we are inclined to believe in this, and some other 

 of the smaller species of the genus Larus, is effected in one year ; but 

 which in the larger species takes three or four years to accomplish. 



In the first plumage, the feathers are more or less mottled with 

 brown and white, which in a short time after leaving the nest, are dis- 

 placed by those which are wholly white underneath ; the head becomes 

 white, with an obscure spot behind the ear ; but the back, scapulars, and 

 coverts of the wings, continue mottled some time longer. In this state, 

 therefore, it comes nearest to the description of Ray's Brown Tern, 

 which had the whole under side white ; the upper brown ; the wings 

 partly brown and partly ash-colour; but then he expressly says the 

 head is black ; a circumstance which never occurs in this bird while it 

 has any brown feathers remaining on its back, and therefore cannot be 

 referred to. 



The second material change brings it to the Lathamian Brown Gull, 

 of the Second Supplement to the General Synopsis, to which we refer 

 for a comparative description ; and which so exactly accords with the 

 following, taken from a recent specimen killed on the 14th of February, 

 on purpose to send to Dr. Latham, that there can be no doubt of their 

 being the same. 



Length thirteen inches and a half ; breadth thirty-seven ; weight 

 eight ounces and three-quarters ; the bill one inch and a quarter in 

 length to the feathers on the forehead ; the base red orange, tip dusky 

 black ; irides dusky ; a black spot at the anterior corner of the eye ; 

 another behind the ear ; crown of the head mottled dusky and white ; 



