Mr Harvie-Brown on Specimens of Arctic Gulls, etc. 303 



It is exactly similar to the adult exhibited to-night.^ It 

 would thus appear that the area frequented by this species 

 is not so circumscribed as is usually supposed, and as 

 recorded by naturalists ; or, it may be possible that it is a 

 comparatively recent species, only now extending its in- 

 fluence and range — though this is scarcely likely, if we 

 consider that it is a species of very marked differentiation. 



Mr Henderson states that he saw " many Sabine's gulls " 

 whilst engaged in capturing bottle-nose whales {Glohi- 

 cepJmhcs melas, Traill), and that wherever these whales were 

 encountered, Sabine's Gulls invariably put in an appearance. 

 He is of opinion that the same circumstances or conditions — 

 whatever these may be — bring them together. Unfortunately, 

 he neglected to examine the stomachs of the gulls, or to 

 compare the contents with those of the stomachs of the 

 whales. This, however, he will attend to in future voyages, 

 as well as obtain as full information as possible in regard to 

 the range, migrations, food, and habits of this interesting 

 species. Mr Henderson's father, who sent me these gulls, 

 says that he has tried, until he is tired, to get the whalers to 

 collect information ; but, he says, " they seem so absorbed — 

 mentally and physically — in blubber, that nothing else can 

 be squeezed out of them." It is therefore doubly interesting 

 and valuable to know that we have, at least, one capable and 

 willing collector, in the person of Mr John Henderson, who 

 visits regularly these high Arctic regions in a whaler. 



In conclusion, I wish to say, that very possibly — nay, 

 very likely — the obscurity which still overhangs the subject 

 of the limited faunal range of such species as these Arctic 

 gulls — more especially such as Bhodostethia Rossii (the 

 roseate gull) — Sabine's Gull, and besides all the inter- 

 grading forms of the luhite-ioingecl family — glaucus, leic- 

 copterus, glaucescens, Kumlieni, etc., etc., — may yet be cleared 

 off, if due attention be paid, not only to their distribution, and 

 migrations and food, but also to the food supplies of fishes 

 and cetacete ; and to their range and migrations throughout 

 these seas. An intelligent comparison between the dis- 



1 I have heard of several others in 1884, but have uo particulars. 



