486 
LARUS PHILADELPHIA. 
peals of prolonged, derisive laughter. These Gulls now breed in one or two localities on 
the southern coast of Maine, on Muskeget' island, and southward, depositing the eggs early 
in July. On Muskeget, the nests are placed in the depressions among the ivy, and the eggs 
are often concealed by the overhanging leaves. When I first visited this islet, about fif¬ 
teen years ago, there were some fifty pairs breeding there, but now, only a quarter part of 
this number resort to the island. When the nests are aproached, the Laughing Gulls si¬ 
lently leave them, and rising, circle at a great height, uttering their oddly sounding notes, 
or will occasionally plunge downward toward the intruder. The Gulls migrate .early in 
September, with the Terns; 
LARUS PHILADELPHIA. 
Bonaparte’s Gull. 
Sterna Philadelphia Ord. Guth., Geog., II; 1815, 319. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cii. Form, slender Size, small. Color .Adult. Back and wings, bluish-ash, with greater portion of two first, 
and outer webs of two next, primaries, white. Outer webs of first and terminal portion of all, tipped with white. Head, 
sooty-black. Half ring around back of eye and remainder of plumage, white. Iris; brown, bill, black, and feet, yellow. 
In winter , lacks the black head and there is a spot of dusky back of ear coverts. Young, similar to winter adult, but with 
a line through wings, tips of secondaries, outer portion of three first primaries, and subterminal band on tail, dusky. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the small size and colors as described. Distributed in summer from the Great Lakes, northward. Win¬ 
ters in Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens. Length, 13‘52; stretch, 31’10; wing, 9'65; tail, 4 - 52; bill, 112; tarsus, 138. 
Longest specimen, 14’00; greatest extent of wing, 32*05; longest wing, 10'25; tail, 5'05, bill, 1'25; .tarsus, P53. Shortest 
specimen, 12 95; smallest extent of wing, 29'98; shortest wing, 8'9H; tail, 4'05; bill, ’98; tarsus, P25. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground or rocky cliffs and composed of sea-weeds, etc. Eggs , three or four in number, oval in 
form, varying from greenish to brown in color, spotted and blotched with brown - ; umber and lilac of varying shades. Di¬ 
mensions from l - 12x 1'38 to I15x 1’45. 
HABITS. 
The pretty, little Bonaparte’s Gulls come to us on the coast of New England, in num¬ 
bers, only in autumn, usually late in August. They are fond of flying in small companies, 
along the beaches, low down, just over the water, when they somewhat resemble Terns. I 
found them quite common on Indian River, Florida, in winter, where they have much the 
same habits as further north. They breed on the Great Lakes, in Labrador, and north¬ 
ward. 
LARDS TRIDACTYLUS. 
Kittiwake Gull. 
Larus tridactylus Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 224. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, medium. Tail, slightly forked. Hind toe, very short. Color. Adult. Back and 
entire wing, rather dark ashv-blue, becoming lighter toward terminal portion of primaries which have the outer webs of 
first, tips of three outer, and subterminal band on next two, black. Remainder of plumage, white. Iris, brown, bill, yel¬ 
low and feet, black. In winter, similar but with posterior portion of head and upper neck overwashed with ashy-blue. 
Young, similar to winter adult but with an indistinct collar on back of neck, line through wing, outer two thirds of four 
or five outer primaries, tip of tail, and bill, black. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the very short hind toe, slightly forked tail and yellow bill. Distributed in summer from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence, northward, wintering from Massachusetts, southward. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements. Length, 16*55; stretch, 36'53; wing. 12‘55; tail, 5*56; bill, 1’45; tarsus, l - 25. Longest spec¬ 
imen, 1712: greatest extent of wing, 37 - 15: longest wing, 13" 12: tail, 5*95: bill, 1"50: tarsus, l - 33. Shortest specimen, 16‘00; 
smallest extent of wing, 3615; shortest wing, 12*05; tail, 4 - 95; bill, l - 40; tarsus, 1'25. 
