APPENDIX VI 405 



in September with dark markings on breast and upon tail 

 feathers. 



10. Rissa tridadyla tridactyla. Kittiwake. Eskimo name, 

 Tah-tah-ra. Common as far north as 82° 30'. Breeds 

 at numerous locaHties in Smith Sound, but not north of 

 Etah, 78° 20'. Associated with the kittiwake, there is a 

 peculiar custom among the Smith Sound Eskimos. In 

 former years the head of this bird was sewn into the 

 clothes of a female child. Worn as an amulet, it would 

 insure giving birth to small children, as the egg of the 

 bird is small in proportion to its size. 



11. Larushyperboreus. Glaucous gull. Burgomaster. Eskimo 

 name, Now-ya. Most common gull in Smith Sound. 

 Breeds on cliffs throughout whole extent of coast-line from 

 Cape York, 76° N., to 82° 30' N. Arrived at Etah May 

 10th, 1914; May 7, 1915; May 13, 1916; May 15, 1917. 

 Upon ledges and islands, where in general there is need of 

 no protection from foxes, nests are placed among those of 

 eider ducks and easily accessible. Upon the mainland we 

 find them upon cliffs, often inaccessible, to the height of 

 1,000 feet. The tops of isolated or outstanding pillars, 

 sometimes called "chimney rocks,'' are always preferred 

 to narrow ledges. In nests are sometimes found one 

 brant or one eider duck's egg. Old nests are remade by 

 being pulled apart and new material added, such as grass 

 and moss. Time of laying depends much upon snowfall 

 and dry condition of nest. I found eggs hatching on July 

 1st at Etah. Ten feet away there was a nest containing 

 eggs perfectly fresh. Eggs, 2-3. June 8, 1917. 



Young leave nest August 18th-31st. Old birds leave 

 Etah and vicinity about September 1st. Young congre- 

 gate and remain feeding at mouth of streams until October 

 31st. The glaucous gulls feed upon dovekies, eider eggs, 

 young eiders, lemming, sculpin, and trout. Dovekies, or 

 little auks, are often seized in mid-air and swallowed whole 



