LARID^ — THE GULLS AND TERNS — LARUS. 215 



line, fish being used as bait. It is ordinarily shy ; but when allured by carrion 

 ceases to be so, and even appears to be indifferent to danger. It will then venture 

 to enter the bays, and even inland waters. When feeding in company with other 

 species, its appearance is peculiar and striking. Its bearing is grave, dignified, and 

 silent, this bird exhibiting none of the liveliness so characteristic of its tribe. When 

 it flies it extends its wings more than most of the genus do, and its flight is more 

 buoyant. When not in quest of food it is shy and retiring, soars out of reach of the 

 fowling-piece, and at intervals is heard to utter a hoarse scream — making a noise 

 unlike that of any other species. This bird has none of the social affections so 

 characteristic of most Gulls and Terns, prompting them to hazard their own lives 

 when their kindred are in trouble ; but when once alarmed it instantly flies off. 

 Rev. W. Scoresby, in his account of the Arctic Eegions, refers to the Burgomaster 

 as being the chief magistrate of the feathered tribe in the Spitzbergen Region, where 

 none of its class dare dispute its authority. It attends the whale-fishers, hovers over 

 the scene of action ; and on its descent, the most dainty pieces must be relinquished, 

 even if already in the grasp of Fulmar Petrel, Ivory Gull, or Kittiwake. This bird 

 seldom alights on the water ; and when it rests on the ice it selects a hummock and 

 fixes itself on the highest point. Its eggs were found by Mr. Scoresby on the beach 

 of Spitzbergen, deposited in the same manner as those of a Tern, in depressions in 

 the shingle just above high-water mark, and exposed to the full rays of the sun. 



Mr. MacFarlane found the Glaucous Gull breeding on islands in the Arctic Sea. 

 In the sixteen nests in regard to which information is given, the eggs were three in 

 number in three instances, and two in nearly all the others. In no case were more 

 than three found. The nest was generally a mere depression scantily lined with 

 decayed reeds or grasses. In one instance two eggs of this Gull and one egg of the 

 Black Brant were seen in the same nest, which was being incubated by one of this 

 species. The egg of the Goose contained an embryo in a more advanced state than 

 those of the Gull. Both parents were seen, and both were very noisy ; making a 

 stout resistance, and trying to drive the intruders off. The female was shot. In an- 

 other instance both birds were said to be very bold, and several times very nearly 

 struck the man who took the eggs. 



Mr. E. Adams mentions this Gull as being among the first to arrive at iSTorton 

 Sound (" Ibis," 1878) ; several were seen about the edge of the ice May 2. They 

 bred in the cliffs of some small islands near St. Michael's. The natives value them 

 for their quills — using the back of the shaft for attaching their fishing-lines to the 

 hooks. 



Mr. R. Kennicott secured an example of this species, September 17, in the Hud- 

 son's Bay Territory. It was seen by Mr. MacFarlane at various localities on the 

 Arctic coast east of Anderson River, in July, 1863; at Liverpool Bay, on islands in 

 Franklin Bay, June and July, 1864 ; on islands in Liverpool Bay, July, 1874 ; on 

 islands in the Lower Anderson River ; also on the Yukon River by Mr. Dall ; and at 

 St. Michael's by Messrs. C. Pease, R. D. Cotter, and H. M. Bannister. It is given by 

 Dr. Bessels as among the birds secured by Captain Hall's party in the Polaris Expe- 

 dition. The British expedition of 1875 did not find it breeding north of Cape Sabine, 

 but stray individuals were observed as far north as lat. 82° 34'. It was not noticed 

 after Sept. 1, 1875 ; and did not reappear until the middle of June in lat. 82° 27' N. 



Mr. H. W. Elliott found this species abundant in the Prybilof group, where it 

 appeared to be restricted by its own choice to Walrus Island ; although it was seen 

 sailing over and around all the islands in easy graceful flight at every hour of 

 the day ; and frequently, late in the fall, would settle down by hundreds upon the 



