337 



XEMA SABINIL 



(SABINE'S GULL.) 



Larus sabini, J. Sabine, Trans. Linn. Soc. xii. p. 522, pi. 29 (1818). 



Xema collaris, J. Ross, in Ross's Voyage, 8vo ed. ii. p. 164 (1819). 



Larus sabinei, Sabine, J. C. Ross, in Ross's Voy. App. p. xxxvii. no. 27 (1835). 



Xema sabini (Sabine), Eyton, Rarer Brit. Birds, p. 64 (1836). 



Gtama sabini (Sabine), Macgillivr. Man. Brit. Birds, ii. p. 241 (1842). 



Figurce notabiles. 



Sabine, I. c. ; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 55. fig. 4 ; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 429 ; id. B. of G. Brit. 

 v. pi. lxvii. ; Audubon, B. of Am. pi. 441 ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 388. figs. 3, 4. 



Ad. ptil. <Est. capite et collo superiore saturate plumbeis : torque collari nigro : collo imo et corpore subtus 

 albis : dorso, scapularibus et tectricibus alarum canis, marginibus alarum a flexura nigris : remigibus 

 primariis nigris albo apicatis et in pogonio interno a basi fere ad apicem conspicue albo marginatis, 

 secundariis et tectricibus alarum medianis conspicue albo terminatis : cauda alba, forficata : rostro 

 nigricante, maxilla aurantiaco, mandibula, flavo apicata : marginibus palpebrarum et angulo oris 

 miniatis : iride pallide brunnea, pedibus nigricantibus. 



Juv. pileo sordide brunnescenti-cinereo, plumis pallidiore apicatis, fronte fere albida, stragulo brunnescenti- 

 cinereo, plumis ad basin sordide eserulescenti-cinereis et albido apicatis : alis ut in adulto, sed secun- 

 dariis intimis dorso concoloribus : cauda forficata, alba, conspicue nigro terminata et vix albido apicata : 

 corpore subtus albo. 



Adult in breeding-plumage (E. of Fort Anderson, Arctic U. S.). Head and upper part of the neck rich dark 

 lead-grey, below which the neck is encircled by a jet-black ring, which is narrower on the fore part and 

 broader on the hind part of the neck, lower part of the neck, fore part of the back, tail, and underparts 

 pure white ; back and upper surface of the wings pale blue-grey ; the edge of the wing from the flexure 

 black ; first five quills black, tipped with white, and on the inner web broadly margined with white from 

 the base nearly to the tip ; secondaries and secondary coverts blue-grey, broadly tipped with white ; 

 bill blackish, tipped with orange on the upper and yellow on the lower mandible ; edge of the eyelids 

 and gape vermilion; iris light brown; legs blackish; tail slightly forked. Total length about 13 - 5 

 inches, culmen l - 3, wing ll'O, tail 4 - 6, tarsus 1'4. 



Young (Disco Bay, end of July) . Crown dull brownish ash, most of the feathers tipped with pale brown, 

 forehead fading to pale whitish ash ; back and mantle generally dark brownish ash, the feathers dull 

 bluish ash at the base, and tipped with dirty white, giving the upper surface of the body a mottled 

 appearance ; edge of the wing, quills, and wing-coverts as in the bird above described, except that the 

 inner secondaries are like the back ; tail white, broadly terminated with black, and narrowly tipped 

 again with white ; underparts pure white. 



Sexes similar, except that the female is rather smaller than the male. 



2B 



