IVORY GULL. 569 



in Davis^s Straits, Baffin's Bay, Port Bowen, and Hecla 

 Cove. Dr. Richardson mentions it as observed breeding 

 in great numbers on the high perforated cliffs which form 

 the extremity of Cape Parry, in latitude 70. Mr. Audu- 

 bon, in his North- American Ornithology, says it is found 

 in winter on the southern coast of Labrador and New- 

 foundland. This Gull feeds on the flesh of whales, and 

 almost any other decomposing animal matter. The egg 

 is unknown to me. 



The adult bird in summer has the bill greenish-grey at 

 the base and about the nostrils, the anterior portion yellow; 

 the irides brown, eyelids red at the edge ; the whole of the 

 plumage, including the wing and the tail-feathers, a pure 

 and delicate white ; the legs short and black. 



M. Temminck, in the fourth part of his Manual, says, 

 that, when alive, the whole plumage of this bird exhibits 

 a rosy tint, which passes off soon after death. 



The adult birds in winter are said to have a few greyish 

 streaks or lines about the head. 



Captain Sabine describes a specimen killed during the 

 first week in June, at Greenland, apparently a bird of the 

 preceding year, as having a few light brown feathers about 

 the bill, extending towards the eyes ; a very small trans- 

 verse band of brown spots across the primary wing-coverts, 

 thickest at the point of the wing ; the primary quill and 

 the tail-feathers slightly tipped with brown. A bird still 

 younger than the last had the ends of the primary quill- 

 feathers, and of the tail-feathers, tipped with brown. 



The whole length from sixteen to eighteen inches, de- 

 pending on age and sex ; from the same cause the wing, 

 from the most anterior joint to the end of the longest quill- 

 feather, varies from twelve and a half to thirteen inches. 



