LAUGHING GULL. 
25 
brings to the mind of the bystander ideas connected with objects altogether 
different from the simple yet beautiful Laughing Gull. 
April 1, 1837. — South-west pass of the Mississippi. L. Atricilla abun- 
dant here at this season, as well as at New Orleans. Saw some floating on 
logs during a heavy breeze. Not noisy yet, though they and L. zonorhynchus 
are in full spring dress (the old birds). 
Barataria Bay, April, 1837. — This species is abundant, following the 
porpoises, whilst the latter are fishing, and attending on them, as they do on 
the Brown Pelicans, which I saw here tormented by these birds, as in the 
Floridas. These Gulls follow the' Brown Pelicans to their roosts, and along 
with them sit on grounded logs, at some distance from the shores, to avoid 
the attacks of racoons and other carnivorous animals. 
Galveston Bay, April 26, 1837. — Black-headed Gulls are not unfrequently 
seen hovering over the inner ponds of these islands, as if in search of food. 
They are now all paired, and very noisy. 
May 4.^-1 observed to-day that at the single cry of a Black-headed Ghll, 
all others within hearing at once came towards the caller, and this never 
failed when any of them had found floating garbage on which to feed. 
These,, as well as all other Gulls, pat the water with their feet, their legs 
being partially extended, whilst assisting themselves with the bill to pick 
up any floating food. At this time the whole group emit a more plaintive 
single note than usual. They come not unfrequently within a few yards 
of our Vessel at anchor, and when the food thrown to them is exhausted, 
they separate, and at once renew their repeated cries. I observed that 
the few immature birds among the old ones,' were quite silent even when 
in the Company of the adults. When the young are nearly able to fly, 
they are by no means bad eating. 
Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ix. p. 89. 
Larus atricilla, Bonap. Syn., p. 359. 
Black-headed Gull, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 291. 
Black-Headed or Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 118. 
Adult, 17, 40f. 
Most abundant from Texas to Massachusetts, breeding along the coast- 
Up the Mississippi to New Orleans. Those which in spring remove to 
the eastward of the Floridas return early in autumn. 
Adult Main in spring. 
Bill rather shorter than the head, nearly straight, moderately stout, 
compressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight to the middle, 
then curved and declinate, the ridge convex, the sides rapidly sloping, the 
Vol. VIII.— 4 
