THE SEA MEWS. 
297 
far it travels along the European coasts lias not, we believe, 
been determined. Audubon states that during the autumnal 
and winter months it occurs along the whole of the extreme 
coasts of the United States. 
With us it builds high up on the ledges of rocky cliffs, 
making its nest of sea weeds; there are generally three 
eggs in each nest ; they are about two inches and a half 
long, of a stone colour tinged with white, and thickly 
spotted with grey and brown. 
The Leaden-grey Hooded Mew (Gavia atricilla), 
known also as the Laughing or Black-headed Gull. 
The Brown Hooded Mew ((?. rudibunda), variously 
called the Black-cap, Black-headed, Laughing Peewit, or 
Eed-legged Gull ; the Hooded Maw, Mire Crow, Pickmire 
or Pictarn. 
^The Brown Masked Mew {G. capistratci), sometimes 
called the Masked Gull. 
Sabine's Mew {G, Scibint), called also Sabine's or 
the Fork-tailed Gull. 
Bonaparte's Mew ((?. Bonapartii), called also the 
Bonapartian Gull. 
The Little Mew ((?. minutus), known also as the Little 
Gull. 
Another generic group of the great Gull family is here 
represented. There seems to be no end of these Gulls; 
the cry is * still they come,' surging up from the north, 
myriads upon myriads, like billows of the seas on which 
they float and feed, as Gisborne says : — 
111 light wing'd squadrons, Gulls of every name 
Screaming discordant o'er the surface hang, 
And ceaseless stoop for prey. 
The Sea Mews, or Sm^^ller Gulls (genus Gavici), differ 
from the true Gulls in being inferior in size, of a more 
slender form, and especially in having the bill and feet 
comparatively feeble. Their cries are loud, shrill, and 
sometimes resembling laughter, hence one of the species is 
called the Laughing Gull. Much more active than the 
