64 



HISTORY OF 



SABINE'S XEME. 



Xema Sabini. LEACH. 



VERY little appears to be known with respect to the habits 

 of this bird. It was first observed by Captain Sabine in Green- 

 land ; his account will be found in the twelfth volume of the 

 " Linnean Transactions." Mr. Thompson, in volume ten of 

 the " London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine," men- 

 tions two specimens having been obtained in Ireland. 



The adult bird, in summer, has the head and upper part of 

 the neck of a dark slate or lead colour, immediately below which 

 is a collar of black ; under plumage, and remaining part of the 

 neck, white; primaries, black tipped, and, with the edges of 

 the inner webs, white ; back, greyish ash ; scapulars, wing 

 coverts, and secondaries, of the same colour ; remainder of the 



