CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. a 
Bering sea and allits dreary coastline are familiar to this great 
gull. In summer it occurs from the Aleutian islands north to the 
farthest points reached by the hardy navigators in the adjoining 
Arctic ocean. Common in the Yukon delta. (Velson.) This 
gull is the earliest to arrive at St. Michael ; few breed here, but 
on the Aleutian islands it breeds in thousands ; at Karluck, on 
Kadiak island, it was in countless thousands in August, I88!- 
(Zurner.) Abundant at Point Barrow. (Murdoch.) Abundant at 
Cape Lisburne, Arctic sea. (Dr. Bean.) They do not breed on 
the Pribilof islands, but in large numbers on Walrus island, about 
six miles from St. Paul island, to which island they go to feed on 
the dead carcases of seals, and from there they carry food to their 
young on Walrus island. It is reported that they destroy the 
young seal pups by picking out their eyes, but this ts doubtful. 
(J. M. Macoun.) ; 
BreepinG Notes.—This bird breeds on Walrus island where 
there are no foxes. It builds neat nests of sea-ferns and dry 
grass placed among the turfy tussocks on the centre of the island. 
It lays early in June three large eggs of a spherically oval shape, 
which have a dark-greyish brown ground with irregular patches 
of darker brown-black. (Ed/ott.) 
This gull nests in a tussock of grass that may grow in the mid- 
dle of a pond in the lowlands, otherwise foxes might disturb it. 
The nest is built of grass and other material. The eggs are 
deposited early in June and are two or three in number. Should 
the eggs be removed the parent will renew the complement, but 
only one or two will be laid. The period of incubation is about 
three weeks. The young are downy and pure white on their first 
appearance, but soon change to gray with darker mottlings. 
(Turner. ) 
On June 4th, near St. Michael, the first nest was found. It was 
placed on a small islet, a few feet across, in the centre of a broad, 
shallow pond. The structure was formed of amass of moss and 
grass, piled up a foot or more high, with a base three feet across, 
and with a deep central depression lined with dry grass. There 
was a single egg. The female as she sat on the nest was visible a 
mile away, and not the slightest opportunity was afforded for 
concealment on the broad surrounding flat. Other nests were of 
