GULLS. 79 



of the terns, which they approach both in general coloration, structure, movements, 

 and habits. A not distantly related species, without black on the head, however, is 

 the mackerel-gull of New Zealand (H. scopulinus), the ' tarapunga ' of the Maori, 

 which seems to be somewhat similar in habit to Richardson's jagger, just mentioned 

 on a previous page, judging from Dr. W. L. Bailer's account, which is to the follow- 

 ing effect : " This pretty little gull is one of our commonest birds, frequenting every 

 part of the coast [of New Zealand], and being equally plentiful at all seasons of the 

 year. It is a bird of very lively habits, and its presence goes far to relieve the mono- 

 tony of a ride over such dreary stretches of sand as the Ninety-mile Beach, and the 

 coast-line between Wanganui and Wellington. At one time you will meet with a flock 

 of fifty or more in council assembled, fluttering their wings, chattering and screaming 

 in a state of high excitement ; at another you will observe them silently winnowing 

 the air, turning, and passing up and down at regular intervals, as they eagerly 

 scan the surface of the water. Here you find them ranged apart along the smooth 

 beach, like scouts on a cricket-ground ; there you see a flock of them packed together 

 on a narrow sand-pit, standing closer than a regiment of soldiers heads drawn in, 

 one foot up, ' standing at ease.' Then, again, if you observe them closely, you may 

 see them following and plundering the oyster-catcher (Hcvmatopns) in a very sys- 

 tematic manner. Nature has furnished the last-named bird with a long bill, with which 



C_3 * 



it is able to forage in the soft sand for blue crabs and other small crustaceans. The 

 mackerel-gull is aware of this, and cultivates the society of his long-billed neighbor to 

 some advantage, he dogs his steps very perseveringly, walking and flying after him, 

 and then quietly standing by till something is captured, when he raises his wings and 

 makes a dash at it. The oyster-catcher may succeed in flying off with his prey ; but 

 the plunderer, being swifter on the wing, pursues, overtakes, and compels a surrender. 

 The gentleman of the long bill looks gravely on while his crab is being devoured, and, 

 having seen the last of it, he gives a stifled whistle, and trots off in search of another, 

 his eager attendant following suit." 



o o 



From the Antipodes we turn our attention towards the icy shores surrounding the 

 North Pole, where one of the most beautiful species of the whole family of gulls has 

 taken up his summer residence, and whence even in winter he only very seldom 

 makes a visit to countries inhabited by civilized man. We refer to Ross's gull (^Rho- 

 dostetlda rosea), or the wedge-tailed gull, as it is also called, on account of the form 

 of its tail. It is a rather small species, white, with a light pearl-gray mantle, and a 

 very characteristic black collar round the middle of the neck ; the white being suf- 

 fused with a delicate peach-blossom red in the fresh bird, which gradually fades away 

 after death. The bill is black, the feet are red. The history of this bird deserves to 

 be given in detail, since it is also the history of how slowly our knowledge of the birds 

 inhabiting the locality where it lives has advanced, and the efforts which have been 

 made by heroic explorers to elucidate the mystery as to the true locality of the species. 

 The first two specimens were obtained at Alagnak, Melville Peninsula, 69 30' north 

 latitude, by Sir James C. Ross, during the latter part of June, 1823, on Parry's second 

 voyage. Since then a few birds w r ere seen by some of the following expeditions. Ac- 

 cidental stragglers to southern countries were obtained in Kamtschatka, England, 

 Faroes, Heligoland, and six specimens found their way to European collections from 

 Greenland. During the Austro-Hungarian 'Tegethoff ' expedition, one was obtained 

 off Franz-Josef Land, but was lost when the vessel was crushed in the ice, and Profes- 

 sor Nordenskjold was fortunate enough to secure at the ' Vega's ' winter quarters a bird 



