226 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



other, with a minute spot on each side, opposite the space between the two larger spots ; occiput 

 with lour large spots arranged in a transverse series ; below these, three others, their position 



corresponding to the spaces between the spots 

 of the series above ; below these three spots a 



-~ ^- ragged band across each side of the nape, the 



x x»? 5?" two separated by a considerable interval ; then 



->fr ^ r— ^ follow two or three spots across the lower part 



,- of the nape, their form and arrangement being 



*» -— - \ , '.>„ , ., . ■; — ,^u » •■ ■ - ... _ rather indefinite. On the lores are three small 



-. spots arranged longitudinally ; a spot over each 



eye ; there are also several irregular large spots 

 on the lower part of the head, rather less dis- 

 tinctly defined than the others. Total length, about 10.00 inches ; bill (from culmen), 1.00 

 inch. 1 



Total length, about 30.00 inches ; wing, 17.CO-19.50 (average, 18.48); culmen, 2.40-2.60 (2.49); 

 depth of bill through angle, .98-1.05 (1.01); tarsus, 2.70-3.10 (2.83); middle toe, 2.10-2.50 (2.34). 

 ( Five adults.) 



The Great Black-backed Gull — ■ or Saddle-back, as it is more commonly called 

 on the American coast — is a North Atlantic species, common to both the European 

 and the American coasts, and found as far north as the Arctic Circle. It also occurs 

 in the Pacific, as Mr. Swinhoe met with it in Japan in May ("Ibis," 1874). It is 

 found along the entire coast of Europe and North Africa, from Norway to Madeira ; 

 and it breeds from the northern coast of France and Great Britain northward. 2 



The Messrs. Godman found this species breeding in large numbers on all the 

 islands off the coast of Norway; and Mr. Wheelwright also affirms that it breeds 

 along the coast of Scandinavia as far as North Cape ; but states that in the south- 

 ern portion of that country it is more common on the Baltic shore than along the 

 ( ';il tegat and the North Sea. It also breeds sparingly on Lake Wener. 



Mr. Godman, in his paper on the Birds of Madeira and the Canary Islands 

 (" Ibis," 1871), states that several birds of this species followed his vessel from Lis- 

 bon until they were nearly in sight of the Canaries, although he did not afterward 

 meet with any in that group of islands. He was informed, however, that these birds 

 breed on the Island of Alegranza. Mr. Saunders found them not uncommon, in their 

 immature plumage, on the coast of Spain; adults were comparatively rare. 



According to Yarrell, this species is found throughout the year on various parts 

 of the British coast. It does not, however, generally occur in large numbers, and is 

 most frequently seen in pairs. It remains all the year on the flat shores at the mouth 

 of the Thames, where it is a marsh-breeder ; both male and female birds assisting in 

 building their grassy nests, and driving other birds away. 



According to Thompson, it is a resident species in Ireland. It is found in Wales 

 : n abundance on the extensive sandy flats of the coast; and it also breeds in Scot- 

 land in considerable numbers on Bass Bock, in the Firth of Forth, and in the firths 

 of Sunderlandshire. 



According to Mr. Hewitson, this Gull breeds in abundance on some of the islands of 

 the Orkney and Shetland groups. There it selects with care a place surrounded by 



1 Described from No. 84765, from Labrador. It may be remarked with regard to the markings of the 

 head, that while in the main those of the two sides correspond in position, some of them are asymmet- 

 rical ; thus, the left lore has the three spots near together and roundish in form, the middle one above 

 the others ; the other lore has these spots much farther apart, in a line with one another, the middle one 

 much elongated ; there is but one spot over the right eye, two over the left. 



- The bird found in the North Pacific is the closely allied /.. schistisagus, recently described by Dr. 

 Stejneger. — J. A. A. 



