534 ARCTIC GULL. Class II. 



where they breed in the heath-, if difturbed they fly 

 about like the lapwing, but foon alight. They are 

 alio found in the Orknies, where they appear in May, 

 and retire in Auguft, It is alfo found on the coaft 

 of Yorkftire, where it is known by the name of 

 Fcajlr. All writers that mention it agree, that it 

 has the property of purfuing the lefTer gulls fo 

 long, that they mute for fear, and that it catches 

 up and devours their excrement before they drop 

 irieo the water; from which the name. Linn^us 

 wittily calls it the Paraftte, alluding to its fordid 

 life. 

 Descrip. The length of this fpecies is twenty-one inches: 

 the bill is dufky, about an inch and a half long, 

 pretty much hooked at the enc], but the flrait 

 part is covered with a fort of cere. The noftrils 

 are narrow, and placed near the end, like the for- 

 Male. mer. In the male, the crown of the head is black: 

 the back, wings, and tail dufky ; but the lower 

 part of the inner webs of the quil-feathers white : 

 the hind part of the neck, and whole underfide of 

 the body white : the tail confifts of twelve feathers, 

 the two middlemoft near four inches longer than 

 the others : the legs black, fmall, and fcaly. 

 Female. The female is entirely brown; but of a much 

 paler color below than above : the feathers in the 

 middle of the tail only two inches longer than the 

 others. The fpecimen from which Mr. Edwards 

 toke the figure of his female Arftic bird, had loft 



thofe 



