296 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



ing the journey over the ice north of Spitzbergen, and that 

 Lieutenant Foster also found the species in Waygate Straits, 

 which is probably one of its breeding places. 



Length of the species 14 inches; of the wing 10^ inches. Length 

 of the bill above 9 lines ; of the tarsus 1 inch 1 line Summer plu- 

 mage ; scapulars, interscapulars, and both surfaces of the wings clear 

 pearl grey ; outer web of the first quill blackish-brown to its tip, 

 which is grey; tips of the scapulars and lesser quills whitish. Some 

 small feathers near the eye, and a collar round the middle of the 

 neck, pitch black. Rest of the plumage white, the neck above and 

 the whole under plumage deeply tinged with peach-blossom red, in 

 recent specimens. Bill black, slender, weak ; the upper mandible 

 slightly arched and compressed towards the point ; rictus and the 

 edges of the eye-lids reddish-orange. Wings an inch longer than 

 the decidedly cuneiform tail. Legs and feet vermilion-red ; tarsi 

 rather stout, the hind toe very distinct, armed with a nail as large as 

 that of the outer toe. 



FORK-TAILED GULL. 



(Larus Sabinii, J. Sabine, Lin. Trans, xii. p. 520. pi. 29. Sabine, 

 (Captain) Greenl. Birds, p. 551. No. 23. Richard. Append. 

 Parry's Second Voy. p. 360. No. 25. Xevia Sabinii, Leach. Ross. 

 Voyage. Append, p. 57.) 



Sp. Charact. — Tail forked; bill black, with a yellow tip; first 5 

 primaries black, bordered with white nearly to their tips. — Adult 

 in summer, with a blackish-grey hood bounded by a black 

 collar. 



This interesting species was discovered by Captain Ed- 

 ward Sabine, on the 25th of July, at its breeding station on 

 some low rocky islands, lying off the west coast of Green- 

 land, associated in considerable numbers with the Arctic 

 Tern, the nests of both birds being intermingled. It is 

 analogous to the Tern, not only in its forked tail, and in its 

 choice of a breeding place, but also in the boldness which 

 it displays in the protection of its young. The parent birds 



