LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 



39. IVORY GULL. Pagophila alba. 



Range. Arctic regions; south in winter to the 

 northern border of the United States. 



The little Snow Gull, as it is often called, is 

 eighteen inches in length. In the breeding sea- 

 son the plumage is entirely white; the bill is tip- 

 ped with yellow and there is a red ring around 

 the eye. These Gulls nest in large colonies in 

 the Arctic Regions, placing their nests on the 

 high rocky cliffs. The nest is made of grass, 

 moss and rubbish, and the three eggs are laid 

 during June. The eggs are olive color and the 

 markings are dark brown. 



10. KITTIWAKE. Rissa tridactyla trydactyla. 



Range. North Atlantic and Arctic regions, 

 breeding from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence north- 

 ward and wintering south to the Great Lakes and 

 Long Island. 



The Kittiwake is sixteen inches in length, has 

 a pearly gray mantle, black tips to the primaries, 

 and remainder of plumage white. Its hind toe 

 is very small being apparently wanting in the 

 eastern form, while in the Pacific it is more de- 

 veloped. These are very noisy Gulls, their notes ; 

 resembling a repetition of their name. They are 

 very common in the far north, placing nests on 

 the ledges of high rocky cliffs, often in company 

 with Murres and Auks. They gather together a ' 

 pile of sticks, grass and moss, making the inter- 

 ior cup-shaped so as to hold their two or three 

 eggs. Large numbers of them breed on Bird 



Rock 



Ivorv 



Kittiwake 



White 



they occupying certain 

 ledges while the Gannets and 

 Murres, which also breed there, 

 also have distinct ledges on 

 which to make their homes. 

 The breeding season is at its 

 height during June. The eggs 

 are buffy or brownish gray and 

 are spotted with different shades 

 of brown. Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data. 

 So. Labrador, June 15, 1884. 

 Three eggs. Nest made of sea- 

 weed and moss, placed on ledge 

 of cliff. Many Murres nesting 

 on other ledges. 



*v 



39 



