the Skua fly up, which, smaller as it is, yet evinces a thoughtless intrepidity,
that strikes the ravenous and merciless bird with terror.
If we compare this species with some other of its tribe, and mark its
great size, its powerful flight, and its robust constitution, we cannot but
wonder to find its range so limited during the breeding season. Few individuals
are to be found northward of the entrance into Baffin's Bay,
and rarely are they met with beyond this, as no mention is made of them
by Dr RICHARDSON in the Fauna Boreali-Americaria. Along our coast,
none breed farther south than the eastern extremity of Maine. The
western shores of Labrador, along an extent of about three hundred miles,
afford the stations to which this species resorts during spring and summer;
there it is abundant, and there it was that I studied its habits.
The farthest limits of the winter migrations of the young, so far as I
have observed, are the middle portions of the eastern coast of the Floridas.
While at St Augustine, in the winter of 1831, I saw several pairs keeping
company with the young Brown Pelican, more as a matter of interest
than of friendship, as they frequently chased them as if to force them to
disgorge a portion of their earnings, acting much in the same manner as
the Lestris does toward the smaller Gulls, but without any effect. They
were extremely shy, alighted only on the outer edges of the outer sandbars,
and could not be approached, as they regularly walked off before my
party the moment any of us moved towards them, until reaching the last
projecting point, they flew off, and never stopped until out of sight. At
what period they left that coast I am unable to say. Some are seen scattered
along our sea-shores, from the Floridas to the Middle States, there
being but few old birds among them; but the species does not become
abundant until beyond the eastern extremities of the Connecticut and
Long Island, when their number greatly increases the farther you proceed.
On the whole of that extensive range, these birds are very shy and
wary, and those which are procured are merely " chance shots." They
seldom advance far up the bays, unless forced to do so by severe weather
or heavy gales; and although I have seen this bird on our great lakes, I
do not remember having ever observed an individual on any of our eastern
rivers, at a distance from the sea, whereas the Larus argentatus is frequently
found in such places.
Towards the commencement of summer, these wandering birds are
seen abandoning the waters of the ocean to tarry for a while on the wild
shores of Labrador, dreary and desolate to man, but to them delightful
as affording all that they can desire. One by one they arrive, the older
individuals first. As they view from afar the land of their birth, that
moment they emit their loud cries, with all the joy a traveller feels when
approaching his loved home. The males sooner or later fall in with the
females of their choice, and together they proceed to some secluded sandbar,
where they fill the air with their furious laughs until the rocks echo
again. Should the student of nature happen to be a distant spectator of
these meetings, he too must have much enjoyment. Each male bows,
moves around his mate, and no doubt discloses to her the ardour of his
love. Matters are managed to the satisfaction of all parties, yet day after
day for a while, at the retreat of the waters, they meet as if by mutual
agreement. Now you see them dressing their plumage, now partially expanding
their wings to the sun; some lay themselves comfortably down
on the sand, while others, supported by one foot, stand side by side.
The waters again advance, and the Gulls all move off in search of food.
At length the time has arrived; small parties of a few pairs fly towards
the desert isles. Some remain in the nearest to prepare their nests,
the rest proceed, until each pair has found a suitable retreat, and before
a fortnight has elapsed, incubation has commenced.
The nest of this species is usually placed on the bare rock of some
low island, sometimes beneath a projecting shelf, sometimes in a wide fissure.
In Labrador it is formed of moss and seaweeds carefully arranged,
and has a diameter of about two feet, being raised on the edges to the
height of five or six inches, but seldom more than two inches thick in the
centre, where feathers, dry grass, and other materials are added. The
eggs are three, and in no instance have I found more. They are two
inches and seven-eighths in length, by]two inches and one-eighth in breadth,
broadly ovate, rough but not granulated, of a pale earthy greenish-grey
colour, irregularly blotched and spotted with brownish-black, dark umber,
and dull purple. Like those of most other Gulls, they afford good eating.
This species lays from the middle of May to that of June, and
raises only one brood in the season. The birds never leave their eggs
for any length of time, until the young make their appearance. Both
sexes incubate, the sitting bird being supplied with food by the other.
During the first week, the young are fed by having their supplies disgorged
into their bill, but when they have attained some size, the food is
dropped beside or before them. When they are approached by man,
they walk with considerable speed towards some hiding place, or to the
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