nri XEMA SABINl. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nes/s, placed on rocky cliff'^, composed of sea-weeds, etc. Eyi/s, two or three in numlier, (jval in f'onii. y<-llowi<li-biiff 

 in color, spotted and blotched witli rounded marks of brown and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions fr.im lfiOxi-20 to 

 1-70 s 2-25. 



HABITS. 



The southernmost breeding ground of the Kittiwake Gull, with which I am acquaint- 

 ed, is Bird Rock, where a few pairs make their homes, placing their nests in the most inac- 

 cessible portions of the rock. The eggs are deposited about the middle of June, and both 

 birds sit persistently on them until they are liatched. Like other members of the genus, 

 the Kittiwakes are particularly active and noisy during severe storms, and when the huge 

 breakers were dashing against Bird Rock, with a fury which sent the salt spray flying over 

 the top of the island, producing a continuous thunder, the loud kittiwake, loakc, wake, mak- 

 er of the Gulls, came distinctly to the ear, as they flew high over the storm-tossed waves. 

 Many Kittiwakes pass the winter in Massachusetts, frequenting the hurbors along the coast. 



GENtS VI. XEMA. THE FORK-TAILED GULLS. 

 Gen-. Cn. Bill, slwrler than head and slender. Tai!,forlicd. Bind toe. short. Members of this genus are remark- 

 able on account of the forked tail. There is but one species within our limits. 



XEMA SABINl. 

 Fork-tailed Gull. 

 Xema sahini Leacu., App. Ross's Voy. ; 1819. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Size, small. Form, slender. Color. Adult. Head, liack and u|iper part of wings, slaty-blue. Ring a- 

 ronnd neck, edge of wings, spurious quill, and first five primaries, black. Tips of tertiaries, greater part of upper wing 

 coverts, and remainder of plumage, white. Bill, black to angle and then yellow to tip. Feet, black. Young. Upper parts, 

 .slaty-gray w ith the feathers tipped with white. The under parts and tail are white, the latter having a subterminal band 

 of black. Wings, similar to adult but with wiiite more restricted. Bill, dusky. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the small size and forked tail. Distributed in summer throughout the Arctic Regions. Wandering in win- 

 ter as far south as Massachusetts. Dimensions. Length, 13'75; stretch, 33-()0; wing, 10'75; tail, 5 Od; bill, TOO; tarsus, 1-25. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Egys, placed on the ground insandy places, two in number, oval in form, deep greenish-brown in color, obscurely spot- 

 ted and blotched with darker. Dimensions from r05x 1'45 to I'lOx TSO. 



IlABirS. 



Although the Fork-tailed Gull has been taken on the coast of Massachusetts several 

 times, it is extremely rare and only reaches us in winter, as it breeds in the Arctic Re- 

 gions, where it is said (o nest like the Terns and to have similar habits. 



GENUS VH. PAGOPIHLA THE WHITE (iULLS. 

 Gkn. Cii. Bill, shorter than head and very stout. Tail, square. Feet, larye and leys stout. Members of this genus 

 are very light in color. We have but one species within our limits. 



PAGOPHILA EBURNEA. 

 Ivory Gull. 



Pagopkila ehurnea Kaup., Sk. Ent. Eur. Thier., I8S9, 69, 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Size, medium. Form, robust. Coum. Adult. White throughout, with shafts of primaries pale yellowish. 

 Youny. Similar but mottled with dusky on head, neck, and tips of primaries and tail. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Recognized by the stout bill and white color. Distributed throughout the Arctic Regions, wandering a little south- 

 ward in winter. Dimensions. Length, 1950; stretch, 41()0; wing, IS'SO; tail, 6-2.5; bill, 1-40; tarsus, 1-45. 



HABITS. 



The handsome Ivory Gull is an exceedingly rare visitor, even to the coast of New- 



