202 TRINGA MARITIMA. 



are dull grey ; the upper parts generally are glossy purplish- 

 black, the feathers margined with "white and tipped with 

 very faint reddish ; those of the hind part of the back, and 

 the upper tail-coverts are greyish-black, the latter tipped 

 with white. The quills are greyish-black, edged with 

 greyish-white, some of the secondaries almost entirely white : 

 the four middle tail-feathers similar, the rest ash-grey, all 

 edged with greyish-white. The lower parts are greyish- 

 white, the fore neck and sides mottled with dark grey, of 

 which there is a central streak on each of the abdominal 

 feathers and lower tail-coverts. The bill is light red at the 

 base, black towards the end ; the feet dusky orange, the 

 claws black. This description is from a specimen brought 

 in 1837 from Davis' Straits, and agrees with that given by 

 M. Temminck, according to whom the young in perfect 

 plumage " have the feathers of the top of the head, those of 

 the back, the scapulars, the secondary quills, and the middle 

 feathers of the tail, dull black, all bordered and tipped with 

 pale red ; all the wing-coverts tipped with broad white 

 edges ; the fore part and sides of the neck longitudinally 

 striped, each feather being margined with grey ; large 

 longitudinal spots on the sides and abdomen ; base of the bill 

 and feet light yellowish." 



Remarks. — The specific name " maritima" is not happily 

 chosen ; but, as it is true, although not distinctive, it cannot 

 with propriety be rejected. Larus marinus, Motacilla flava, 

 and many other names equally defective, ought yet to be 

 retained, were it for no other reason than to avoid con- 

 fusion. 



M. Temminck states that it is very common in Holland, 

 and occurs in Norway, and on the shores of the Baltic and 

 Mediterranean Seas. Mr. Audubon found it very abundant 

 in the United States, and also traced it in summer to 

 Labrador ; while our Arctic travellers describe it as plentiful 

 in Hudson's Bay The American specimens which I have 

 examined do not differ from those of Europe. 



