XEMA. CREAGRUS. 



203 



Sub-Family LARIN^E. 



Genus XEMA, Leacli. 

 Xema sabinei (J. Saline). 



(Plate XVIII. fig. 3.) 



Xema sabinii, Newton, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 57, pi. iv. fig. 5 ; Dresser, Birds 

 Eur. viii. p. 337 (1874) ; Nelson, Rep. Nat. Hist. Alaska, p. 56 

 (1887) ; MacFarlane, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. xiv. p. 419 (1891) ; 

 Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 162 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l \. 

 p. 139 (1899). 



Xema sabini, Baird, Brewer $ Ridgw. Water Birds N. Am. ii. p. 269 

 (1884). 



Larus sabinii, Seebohm, Brit. Birds, iii. p. 298, pi. 54 (1885) ; id. Eggs 



"(18" 



of Brit. Birds p. 105, pi. 36. fig. 8 



The eggs of Sabine's Gull are usually of a pointed oval form, 

 but some are pyriform. In coloration, they closely resemble the 

 eggs of the Skuas. The ground is of a brown colour of various 

 shades, tinged with olive. The markings consist of spots and small 

 blotches, are pale and indistinct, and are pretty evenly distributed 

 over the whole shell, but in a few specimens there is a tendency for 

 these to form a zone or imperfect cap at the larger end. The 

 surface- markings are brown ; and the underlying markings greyish 

 brown. Numerous examples measure from 1*62 to 1'95 in length, 

 and from 1-17 to 1-33 in breadth. 



Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 



Salvin-Godman Coll. 



Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Salvin-Godman Coll. 



Voy. H.M.S. ' Enterprise. 

 Saunders Coll. 



5. North America (Henshaiv Coll.}. 

 2. East of Anderson River, Arctic 

 America (Henshaw Coll.}. 



2. St. Michael's, Alaska, 6th June 



(E. W. Nelson}. 



3. St. Michael's, 13th June (E. W. N.). 



2. St. Michael's, 6th June (Henshaiv 



Coll.}. 



1. Cambridge Bay, Arctic America 

 (Capt. Collinson}. 



3. Franklin Bav (R. MacFarlane, 



R.N.). 



Genus CREAGRUS, Bp. 



Creagrus furcatus (Neboux). 



(Plate XVI, fig. 3.) 



Xerna furcata, Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 165 (1896) ; Rothsch. 



fy Hartert, Nov. Zool. vi. p. 196 (1899). 

 Creagrus furcatus, Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 139 (1899). 



The eggs of Neboux's Gull are of a perfectly regular oval form. 

 The ground is of a light cream-colour or very pale buff, occasion- 

 ally with a faint tinge of green. The underlying markings are 

 numerous, large, and of a pale purple colour. The surface-markings , 

 consisting of spots and large blotches of deep chocolate-brown or 

 blackish brown, are evenly distributed over the shell, but as in 



