BIRDS OF ICELAND 117 



Pagophila eburnea (Phipps). Ivory Gull. 



Native name : ' Hvitmafur ' ? ' 'Isniiifur ' ? 



A scarce occasional visitor in winter or early spring, 

 and only noticed of recent years. The late William 

 Proctor received two specimens from the north (pro- 

 bably Grimsey), and these, I believe, were the first 

 record (Newton, Ihis, 1864, p. 132). Herra Grondal 

 saw a skin in a merchant's store in April 1879, and 

 calls the bird otherwise unknown to him. The only 

 other one for which I can give chapter and verse, 

 though I have heard of others being seen, was shot in 

 the EyjafjuiSr early in the year 1894, and is now in 

 my collection. I do not fancy that it would be difficult 

 to obtain specimens along the north coast in any fairly 

 severe winter. 



The Ivory Gull is of an ivory white all over, wdth a 

 subdued rosy tint when alive, which soon fades after 

 death; legs and feet black. Length 18 inches, wing 

 13 inches, or a little more. The immature birds have 

 a greyish head, and upper parts spotted w^ith black ; 

 tail-feathers tipped with black, and a black bar on 

 the Hight-feathers. The Ivory Gull belies its refined 

 appearance, as it feeds greedily upon whale and seal 

 carcases and any marine offal, as well as small marine 

 creatures. 



