LAUGHING GULL. 
I6‘3 
til, 
iHtf liouse, coursing along the river shores, glean- 
Sut refuse of the fishermen, and the animal 
^taiiugjj left by the tide ; or scattered over the 
rshes and neivly ploughed fields, regaling on the 
which, in the vernal 
the bounty of Nature provides for the sustenance 
Myriads of the feathered race. 
^ yji the Jersey side of the Delaware Bay, in the 
j^'shbourhood of Fishing Creek, about the middle of 
the black-headed gulls assemble in great multi- 
Mu! 
tua; 
tb upon the remains of the king crabs which 
cii*' have left, or upon the spawn which those 
j *®’us animals deposit in the sand, and which is 
jittered along the shore by the waves. At such times, 
H ®'!'y one approach to disturb them, the gulls will rise 
clouds, every individual squalling so loud, that 
® ■■Oar may be heard at. the distance of two or three 
‘ail. 
"•he 
■s an interesting spectacle to behold this species 
),, *■■ about recommencing their migrations. If the 
■■hai he calm, they will rise up in the air, spirally, 
dj, .'’-'■■■ing all the while to each other in the most 
manner, their notes at such times resembling 
itil- **>nging of a hen, but far louder, changing often 
Ogf '■/■uic, ha ha ha haw ! the last syllable lengthened 
lU like the excessive laugh of a negro. When 
mingling together, like motes in the 
their black heads and wing-tips, and snow 
dfj*'® plumage, give them a very beautiful appearance, 
ly;.,’’ gaining an immense height, they all move off, 
tk • **■■0 consent, in a direct line towards the point of 
destination. 
ill bird breeds in the marshes. The eggs are three 
.[■.■■■her, of a dun clay colour, thinly marked with 
ji(,i ^ ■■'■’egular touches of a pale purple, and pale brown ; 
*'• ‘I®®!’®*' with larger marks, and less 
a L than others ; the egg measures two inches and 
A alter by one inch and a half. 
®8n ** black-heads frequently penetrate into the interior, 
r®cially as far as Philadelphia; but they seem to 
