208 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE LARIN.E. [Feb. 5, 



Genus Rhodostethia, Macgill. 



The distinguishing characteristic of this genus is the cuneate tail, 

 in which respect the sole representative species is unlike every other. 

 On account of this elongation of the central feathers of the tail, 

 some systematists have placed it next to the Stercorariince ; but it 

 should not be inferred from this solitary point of resemblance that 

 the two genera are at all closely related, their representatives being 

 in other respects far apart. It is much to be desired that the ster- 

 num of the next specimen obtained should be preserved, as I believe 

 this part of its structure has never been critically examined. 



47. Rhodostethia rosea, Macgill. 



Larus rosens, Macgill. Wern. Soc. Trans, v. no. xiii. p. 249 (1824), 

 descr. of sp. from Melville Peninsula ; Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. vol. i. 

 pi. xiv. 



Larus rossii, Richards. App. Parry's 2nd Voy. p. 359 (1825), 

 Melville Peninsula; J. C. Ross, App. Ross's 2nd Voy., Nat. Hist, 

 p. 36 (1835), Felix Harbour, Boothia ; Sw. & Rich. F. Bor.-Am. ii. 

 Birds, p. 427 (1831); J. C. Ross, App. Parry's Narr. p. 195(1828). 



Rossia rosea (Macgill.), Bp. Comp. List, p. 62 (1838). 



Rhodostethia rossi, Macgill. Man. Brit. Orn. pt. ii. p. 253 (1842). 



Rhodostethia rossii, id. Brit. Birds, v. p. 618. 



Rhodostethia roseus, Bruch, J. f. Orn. 1853, p. 106. 



Rhodostethia rosea, Saunders, Ibis, 1875, p. 484 (jr.) ; Payer, 

 Austrian Exp. ii. p. 91 (English transl.) ; Dresser, B. of Eur. pt. 



i. (1877) 



" Larus collaris" MS., Schreibers, in Mus. Vindob. 



Hab. Melville Peninsula, 69|° N. lat., and Boothia, straggling to 

 Greenland, once to the Faroes, once to Heligoland, and (on very 

 questionable authority) once to England. This last specimen, which 

 I have examined, has every appearance of having been mounted from 

 a skin and not from the flesh. Ross and Parry state that it was 

 seen to the north of Spitzbergen in about 82° N. lat. ; but they did 

 not obtain specimens, and no subsequent visitors to that district have 

 observed it ; more recently Lieut. Payer says that it was obtained 

 about Franz-Josef Land. 



There can be no doubt of the prior claim of Macgillivray's name 

 for this species ; but its imposition, in anticipation of that which 

 Richardson intended to bestow on it, gave rise to a good deal of bad 

 feeling at the time. 



In 'The Ibis,' 1875, p. 484-487, I gave a description of the im- 

 mature plumage of this Gull from two specimens in the Mainz 

 Museum, and enumerated the eleven examples known to exist ; to 

 these may be added one more in Copenhagen, and one, of which Mr. 

 O. Salvin has recently informed me, in the museum of Vienna : total 

 thirteen specimens. 



In reply to inquiries respecting the Vienna example, Hr. von 

 Pelzeln informs me that it formed part of the collection made by 

 Giesecke during his seven years' residence in Greenland, and came 



