158 



found a clutch of two pale-coloured eggs on the mainland. Then, 

 however, most of the young were capable to fly. Young, not yet 

 capable of flying, try to escape by hiding. They also like to take 

 refuge in the sea, and swim back to the shore as soon as the 

 intruder has gone. 



This beautiful and elegant Tern-species likes to fish near the 

 coast. Near Cape Boheman it fed especially on Crustaceae (viz. Gam- 

 fnarus), which were very numerous near the beach. They seem to 

 rest little; all night one could see them fishing. 



Laras hyperboreas Gunn., the Glaucus Gull. 



Larus glaucus Brunn., Trevor Battye (1897), p. 593. 

 Larus glaucus Brunn., Kolthoef (1908), p. 67. 

 Larus glaucus Brunn., Schalow (1904), p. 11:4. 

 Larus glaucus Brunn., le Roi (1911), p. 190. 

 Larus glaucus Brunn., Zedlitz (1911), p. 313. 



9, Dutch settlement near Cape Boheman, July 9, 1921. 

 cT juv., Icefjord near Cape Boheman, Aug. 21, 1921. 



The large Glaucus Gull is a common bird in the Arctic Ocean 

 and in Spitsbergen, where they are not very plentifal, however. 

 Yet they were met with every day near Cape Boheman, though 

 they did not breed here. Above the loomery of Mt. Congress, at 

 the edge of precipitous cliffs and distinctly visible from the top of 

 the mountain, I saw some of their large nests (O.E.). At that time 

 (July 13) they had young. One pair was apparently breeding in Ebba 

 Valley [Klaas Billen Bay (July 15)] on the de Gear Range, about 

 10 K.M. from the sea (O.E.). 



The food of these extremely beautiful birds — they are pure 

 white, with pale-blue mantle — consists chiefly of garbage. In 

 (>reen Harbour a dead whale was found on the beach and this was 

 a great treat for the Glaucus Gulls and Fulmars. 



During breeding season eggs and young birds are a welcome prey 

 for them. In the vicinity of every bird-colony there are always 

 some present. I saw many on the Anser Isles (O.E.) and it was 

 amusing to note, how they followed us, in the hope of robbing the 

 eggs of the Eiders, which had left their nests, when we came 

 too near. In an incredibly short time an egg was opened and the 

 embryo (the eggs were highly incubated on July 17) swallowed. 



