"The
Black-headed Gull may be said to be a constant
resident along the southern coast of the United
States, from South Carolina to the sabine river; and I
have found it abundant over all that extent both in
winter and summer, but more especially on the shores
and keys of the floridas, where I found it breeding,
as well as on some islands of the Bay of Galveston
Texas. A very great number of these birds however
remove, at the approach of spring, towards the middle
and Eastern Districts, along the shores of which they
breed in considerable numbers, particularly on those
of new jersey and Long Island, as well as several
islands in the Sound. They constantly evince a dislike
to rocky shores, and therefore are seldom seen beyond
Massachusetts, in which State indeed they are
exceedingly rare."
"On
the 10th of May 1832, it was my good fortune to be
snugly on board the "Lady of Green Mantle," or in
other words, the fine revenue cutter Marion. The Gulls
that laughed whilst our anchors were swiftly
descending towards the marvelous productions of the
deep, soon had occasion to be sorrowful enough. As
they were in great number, officers and men, as well
as the American Woodsman, gazing upon them from the
high decks of the gallant bark, had simple opportunity
for observing their motions. they were al busily
engaged on wing, hovering here and there around the
Brown Pelicans, intent on watching their plunges into
the water, and all clamorously teasing their best
benefactors. As with broadly extended pouch and lower
mandible, the pelican went down headlong, so
gracefully followed the gay rosy-breasted Gull, which,
on the brown bird's emerging, alighted nimbly on its
very head, and with a gentle stoop instantly snatched
from the mouth of the purveyor the glittering fry that
moment entrapped.
Is
this not quite strange,Reader? Aye, truly it is. The
sight of these maneuvers rendered me almost frantic
with delight. . . . And now, Reader, I will conclude
this long article with some fragments from my
journals."
"Tortugas,
May 1832. - Whilts here, I often saw the Black-headed
Gull of Wilson, sucking eggs of Sterna fuliginosa
(Sooty tern), and Sterna stolida (Noddy
Tern). Our sailors assured me that these gulls also
eat the young of these two species of Terns when newly
hatched."
