344 



white, thus forming a white band. Carpals and upper wing-coverts smoke-brown, faintly tipped with 

 white ; lower wing-coverts grey, like the mantle, but tertials smoke-brown. Tail consisting of twelve 

 feathers, pure white in one specimen ; in the other the third and fourth feathers on each side are barred 

 with smoke-brown; the fourth projects beyond them a trifle, the fifth decidedly, whilst the central 

 feathers extend 0"75 inch beyond the fifth, making total projection about one inch. Total length of 

 tail 4'5 inches; wings in stuffed specimen reach a trifle beyond tip. Tarsus 1'15— 1*2 inch, middle toe 

 V2, outer toe 11, inner toe - 95; hind toe and nail well developed; nails black. Colour of legs and 

 feet (evidently much faded) yellowish clay." 



Of all the known species of Gulls Ross's Rosy Gull, as the present species is called, as well as 

 the Cuneate-tailed Gull, is probably the rarest, as also, from its elegant shape and delicate 

 coloration, one of the most interesting. First discovered in 1823 by Ross on Melville Peninsula, 

 it is so exceedingly rare that only eleven or twelve examples are known to exist (three of which 

 I have been fortunate enough to examine), viz. : — one in the Derby Museum, Liverpool, obtained 

 at Alagnak, in 69|° N. lat., Melville Peninsula, on the 23rd June 1823; one in the Edinburgh 

 University Museum, marked 6 , obtained at Igloolik, Melville Peninsula, on the 27th June 1823 ; 

 one in the University Museum at Cambridge, obtained on Gronne Eiland (Green Island), Disco 

 Bay, Greenland, in 1859, by Dr. PfafF, and received from the Copenhagen Museum, where there 

 are three others from the same locality ; one in the collection of Mr. Gatke, a mature bird in 

 winter plumage, shot on Heligoland on the 5th of February 1858 ; one in the collection of 

 Mr. Alfred Benzon at Copenhagen, obtained at Suderoe, on the Fseroe Islands ; one in the 

 collection of Lady Georgiana Milner, said to have been killed by a gamekeeper near Tadcaster, 

 in Yorkshire, in February 1847; two in the Mayence Museum, said to have come from Kamt- 

 schatka, which is obviously a mistake. The two specimens in the Mayence Museum were 

 examined by Mr. Howard Saunders, who says they are in immature dress, and gives (Ibis, 1875, 

 p. 485) a description of them. He expresses a doubt as to the correctness of the statement that 

 they came from Kamtschatka, and states that they were obtained through the Maison Verreaux, 

 and that M. Jules Verreaux assured him he had received them from a Pole who had been in 

 Kamtschatka, but that he still remains sceptical as to the locality. From the above it will be 

 seen that this rare Gull inhabits Melville Peninsula and the coast of Greenland during the 

 summer season, and has strayed southwards to the coast of England, the Faeroes, and Heligoland 

 in winter. It is stated that on Parry's Spitsbergen expedition in 1827 it was seen during the 

 journey on the ice as far as they penetrated, and that Lieut. Foster met with it in the Waigats 

 Straits ; but no specimens were obtained. Dr. Malmgren expresses a doubt as to the correctness 

 of the identification of the species in this instance; and though Professor Newton urges (Ibis, 

 1865, p. 524) that "we have yet the distinct testimony of Ross himself, the discoverer of this 

 beautiful species, that he saw examples of it when on the celebrated journey over the ice — 

 testimony moreover which is confirmed by that careful observer Sir Edward Parry himself 

 (Narrative, &c. pp. 81, 110)," — yet the experience of later explorers shows that Dr. Malgren's 

 suspicions are justifiable. 



Nothing whatever is on record respecting the habits of the present species ; and its breeding- 

 haunts and eggs are quite unknown. 



Bonaparte (Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 230) gives as a synonym of the present species Larus 



