160 A. L. V. Manniche. 



I often observed larger gulls as well older as younger birds, some 

 of which may have been L. leucopterus. 



August 8^^ 1906. Lat. 76° 10' n. I saw a gull sitting on a snow 

 drift close by the ship. Though I did not succeed in securing the 

 bird, I have without hesitation noted it down as an Iceland Gull. 



Glaucous Gull. Laras glauciis Brunn. 



Though this species was in no place very numerous it occurred 

 rather commonly nearly everywhere the expedition came. 



It was, however, not recorded farther North than lat. 80° 20' n. 

 Here and a little farther South some 50 birds were counted June 

 9*^^ and 10th 1907 by Koch and Bertelsen, who were of the opinion 

 that the birds nested on the bird-cliffs lying in the neighbourhood. 



During the navigation through the pack-ice — especially on the 

 voyage outwards — Glaucous Gulls would often appear around the 

 ship, sometimes singly and sometimes in smaller flocks. 



The old birds would generally keep themselves separate from 

 the younger grey coloured ones. The Gulls were usually shy and 

 kept at a proper distance from the ship. They would often sit in 

 small flocks on the tops of snow-drifts and ice-bergs. 



A young male — presumably two years old — was shot at lat. 

 75°52'n. long. 16° w., August 1V^\ 



This species appeared at the ship's harbour, Stormkap and Hval- 

 rosodden in the end of May, while the bays and firths as well as 

 the fresh waters were still covered with thick ice. The first two 

 weeks after their arrival they were obliged to fly far and wide for 

 food. In small flocks they used to fly so high in the air that I — 

 only guided by their cries — could hardly discover them even by 

 aid of my field-glass. 



At flood time the gulls would diligently visit the cracks made 

 by the tide along the shore; here they picked up small fishes — 

 especiall}^ Icelas hainatiis and Gadus saida — which were forced up 

 to the surface. The gulls Avould surprisingly quickly discover shot 

 seals and carcasses of other larger animals, upon which they fall 

 with great greedines. By picking out the eyes of a carcass they 

 would soon make their way to the brain, which seemed to be the 

 most favoured part. 



1 Some of the big gulls observed in the pack-ice may have been L. leucopterus. 



