NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 165 



to 1.98 long by 1.35 to 1.40 broad. Authorities say three, but I have 

 had a number of sets of four eggs. In summer the Black Skimmer is 

 abundantly distributed from New Jersey southward, and it is strictly mari- 

 time. It may be known by its singularly shaped bill, the under mandible 

 of which is much longer than the upper, and compressed like a knife 

 blade, its end being obtuse. The bird seems to feed as it skims low over 

 the water, the under mandible probably grazing the surface. Like the 

 Terns, the Skimmers breed in communities, depositing the eggs on the 

 bare sand. 



Hab. Warmer parts of America, north on the Atlantic coast to New Jersey, and casually to the Bay of 

 Funday. 



658. Kittiwake Gull — rissa trid.a.ctyla. Yellowish-buff, spotted and 

 blotched with rounded marks of brown and lilac of varying shades; oval; 

 two or three in number; size about 2.25 by 1.80, with great variation. 

 The Kittiwake Gull breeds from New England northward. It is a very 

 abundant species coastwise, nesting not always on the ground, like most 

 Gulls, but on rocky cliffs overhanging water. The nest is composed of 

 sea-weed, etc. 



Hab. Arctic regions, south in Eastern North America in winter to the Great Lakes and Middle 

 States. 



659. Red-legged Kittiwake — rissa brevirostris. This beautiful species 

 is exceedingly abundant on the islands of Behring's Sea, where it is a 

 constant resident, nesting in June and July on shelves of the most in- 

 accessible crags, building a strong nest of grass, moss and sea-weeds, 

 mixed with mud. The eggs are two or three, of the size and shape of a 

 hen's eggs, but like those of the last species. Short-billed Kittiwake is 



its other name. Hab. Coast and islands of Behring's Sea. 



660. Glaucous Gull; Burgomaster — larus glaucus. Varying from 

 bluish-white to dark brownish-yellow, spotted, blotched and sprinkled 

 with brown and lilac of varying shades; three or four in number; size 

 from 2. 95 to 3.00 long by 2.18 to 2.25 broad. This large and handsome 

 Gull breeds in the far north, placing its nest on the most inaccessible rocky 

 cliffs. It is composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. 



Hab. Arctic regions ; south in winter in North America to the Great Lakes and Long Island. North 

 Pacific. 



661. White-winged Gull — larus leucopterus. The Iceland or White- 

 winged Gull breeds in the Arctic regions, placing the nest on rocky cliffs; 

 it is composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. The eggs are three or four in 

 number, deep brownish-yellow, spotted and blotched with rather round 



