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Genus RHODOSTETHIA. 



Larus apud Macgillivray, Mem. Wern. Soc. v. p. 249 (1824). 

 Rossia apud Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 62 (1838). 

 Bhodostethia, Macgillivray, Man. Brit. Orn. ii. p. 253 (1842). 



This genus contains but a single species, which inhabits the arctic portions of the Palsearctic and 

 Nearctic Regions, but rarely straggling south of the Arctic circle. So far as I can ascertain, 

 nothing definite is known respecting either the general habits of this rare bird, which, however, 

 in all probability, does not much differ therein from its allies. 



Rhodostethia rosea has the bill short, rather slender, the upper mandible decurved towards 

 the tip, the lower mandible with the intercrural space narrow, the knob slight, the dorsal line 

 concave, and the tip narrow ; wings long, pointed ; the tail cuneate, the central feathers much 

 longer than the lateral ones ; legs short, the tibia bare for a short distance ; tarsus anteriorly 

 scutellate, rough posteriorly ; hind toe small, with a large curved claw ; anterior toes moderate, 

 the webs entire ; claws rather large, curved, compressed, acute ; plumage soft and full, the head 

 always white, the neck in the summer encircled by a narrow black ring. 



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