NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 339 



abnormal In appearance. The nest is described as a 

 depression lined with bits of drift-weed ; the eggs, as 

 having the ground colour pale pea-green, finely speckled 

 with ashy-brown : size i"5 inch in length, by ro inch in 

 breadth \op. cit. p. 188, PI. II., Figs, i and 2). Mr. Raines 

 collectors seem to have been fully aware of the import- 

 ance of their discovery, and were too anxious to wait, after 

 finding the nest with two eggs, for the full complement to 

 be laid. I can only repeat that without authentication 

 the eggs must be rejected by scientific naturalists as 

 valueless. I might also remark that the Gray Phalarope 

 breeds in Iceland, and that in nuptial plumage it bears 

 a somewhat close resemblance to the Knot in breeding 

 dress, both species having the under-parts rich chestnut 

 durin^r summer. 



Family LARlD.4i. Genus Rhodostethia. 



Sub- family LARINyE. 



ROSS'S GULL. 



Rhodostethia rosea, Macgillivray. 



(British : Very rare nomadic winter migrant.) 



The breeding grounds of this species are probably in 

 the Polar regions lying north of lat. 75^ or 80°. There is 

 some evidence to suggest that one great breeding place 

 of this Gull Is situated either on the Liakoff Islands, or 

 on undiscovered land lying to the north of Wrangel 

 Island. Others probably occur on the Arctic Archi- 

 pelago, north of Prince Albert Land. The (igg reputed 

 to be of this species taken in Greenland and forwarded 

 to England from Disco is totally unauthenticated. 



