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Genus PAGOPHILA. 



Larus apud Phipps, Voy. towards N. Pole, p. 187 (1774). 



Gavia apud Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 563. 



Pagaphila, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 69 (1829). 



Cetosparactes apud Macgillivray, Man. Brit. Orn. ii. p. 252 (1842). 



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

 Nearctic Regions, being seldom seen away from the region of ice. 



It flies lightly and with ease, and swims well and buoyantly. It usually follows the seal- 

 and whale-hunters in order to feed on the refuse of the carcasses which are cast out ; and it is 

 stated to feed on the droppings of the seals. It is said to build a nest of moss, which it places 

 on the ledge of a cliff ; and its eggs are said to be pale olivaceous, blotched with brown. 



Pagophila eburnea, the type of the genus, has the bill considerably shorter than the head, 

 higher than broad at the base, robust, straight, compressed, the upper mandible decurved 

 towards the tip, which is obtuse but has sharp edges and rather overlaps the lower mandible, 

 which is narrower, compressed, with the intercrural space long and narrow, the crura slightly 

 inclined outwards, a little convex, with a slight prominence at the commissure ; nostrils linear, 

 oblong, wider in front, covered above and behind by a thin-edged, sloping plate ; wings long, 

 full, pointed, the first quill longest ; tail moderate, nearly even or slightly rounded ; legs short, 

 the tibia bare for a short space ; tarsus anteriorly broadly scutellate, and posteriorly and laterally 

 covered with minute prominent scales ; hind toe small, elevated, the claw stout, curved, obtuse ; 

 anterior toes moderate ; interdigital membranes emarginate ; claws stout, slightly arched, obtuse, 

 that on the middle toe slightly dilated on the inner edge ; plumage full, close, pure white in the 

 adult bird. 



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