218 



LONO-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



and that it is only an occasional visitor, generally in the winter, to tlio other portions 

 of the Scandinavian coast. 



This (luU is occasionally seen in the winter on the coast of Great Britain and 

 Ireland, where it was for a long while confounded with the larger Glaucous Gull, It 

 is also found on the Faroe Islands and in Iceland — where, however, it is not known 

 to breed. According to Faber, this is the only Gull which passes the winter in that 

 island without also breeding there in the summer. 



Sir James C. IJoss, in his last Appendix, states that ho found this species breeding 

 on the face of the same precipices with L. ijlttiu'us, l)ut at a mucdi less height, and 

 in greater nundjers. He met with it in Greenland, and afterward in the Shetland 

 Islands. During the first voyages of Iloss, and also in those of Sir Edward Tarry, 

 many specimens were obtained in Davis Straits, Uattin's Hay, and on Melville Island. 

 Through an error of Temminck, these birds were regarded as being an Arctic variety 

 of L. argentatus, and were so described. This (iuU is also mentioned by Dr. Walker 

 as having been met with by him near Godthaab, in Greenland. Afterward, while at 

 the mouth of Bellot's Strait, he noted its arrival in Jlay. It was buililing its nest 

 on the high cliffs which fringe the shores of that strait. It is also named by Pro- 

 fessor Ileinhardt as a resident species of Greenland, where it breeds, and where it is 

 more or less common at all seasons. ]\Ir. L. Kumlien found it in Cumberland far 

 less common than the glaacns ; while on the coast of Greenland it was, next to tlie 

 Kittiwake, the most abundant Gull. 



This species is occasional along the entire Atlantic coast in the winter, but is said 

 to be rare near New York. Those individuals wliich are occasionally met with are 

 chiefly immature birds. This Gull is more abundant in the Bay of Fundy, but is 

 rare there in summer. An occasional i)air has been known to breed among the outer 

 islands. In the summer of 1850 I found a pair nesting on one of the Green Islands. 

 The nest was placed on tli'.) ground, on the highest point of the land, on the top of a 

 small hillock. This was the only Gull nesting on that island, although on all the 

 others the nests of the L. Smithsonianus were quite abundant. The birds were not 

 shy ; but they kept out of gunshot, and watched our movements very closely. Unlike 

 the Herring Gulls, they were very quiet, and uttered no sound or cry whatever. There 

 were three eggs in the nest, which was very slightly made, 



Mr, E, W, Nelson states that the White-winged Gull is a regular and not uncomnu)U 

 winter resident on Lake Michigan, 



Faber was confident that none of this species breed in Iceland, Not an individual 

 was to be seen on the rocks of Faxe and Bredebugt, where L. glmicus was breeding,' 

 in large colonies. Just after the middle of September the first specimens, botli old 

 and young, make their appearance on the coast of Iceland, confining themselves td 

 the northern part, among the small inlets, where great numbers pass the winter. 

 Toward the end of April their numbers decreased, and by the end of May nearly all 

 had disappeared. These birds were Faber's daily guests. They came on land to his 

 winter dwelling, and snapped up the entrails thrown to them, fighting fiercely lor 

 them with the Ravens, One was so tame that it presented itself at his door every 

 morning at a certain time, that it might be fed and always gave noticfe of its arrival 

 by a cry. This Gull would indicate to the seal-.shooters in the fiord where the seals 

 were to be looked for, by following their track to the sea, and hovering over them in 

 flocks, with incessant cries. It is said to follow, in the same manner, the track of the 

 codfish in the sea, in order to feed upon the booty hunted up by this fish, Faber 

 further states that in the winter (1821) he passed at Debratte, on the southern coast, 

 not a single bird of this species was to be seen. On the 1st of March the shore was 



