THE FORKED-TAILED GULL. 127 



blunt. Plumage close, soft, blended, on the back and wings rather compact. 

 Wings very long, pointed; first and second quills longest; secondaries broad, 

 the inner more elongated. Tail of moderate length, generally even, rarely 

 rounded or emarginate, of twelve feathers. In those which have the head 

 white in summer, it is streaked with dusky in winter; and those which are 

 hooded in summer, have the head white and slightly streaked in winter. 



THE FORKED-TAILED GULL. 



-tLarus Sabini, Sabine. 

 PLATE CCCCXLL— Male. 



On my return from Labrador, I had the pleasure of seeing this interesting 

 little Gull flying over the harbour of Halifax in Nova Scotia. It was in 

 company with our Common American Gull. Although I have not observed 

 it on our eastern shores or farther south on the coast, it is not improbable 

 that it rambles there in winter along with other species which, like itself, 

 breed far north. Its flight in some measure resembles that of the Common 

 Tern, although it is more decided, and, consequently, more like that of the 

 smaller species of its own genus. In the course of a voyage from Pictou in 

 Nova Scotia to Hull in England, lately performed by my friend Mr. 

 Thomas MacCulloch, he saw great numbers of this species when more 

 than a hundred miles off Newfoundland. They flew around the ship in 

 company with an almost equal number of Ross' Gull. 



Dr. Richardson gives the following account of the Forked-tailed Gull, 

 in the Fauna Boreali-Americana. "This interesting species of Gull was 

 discovered by Captain Edward Sabine. It was first seen on the 25th of 

 July at its breeding station on some low rocky islands lying off the west 

 coast of Greenland, associated in considerable numbers with the Arctic Tern, 

 the nests of both birds being intermingled. It is analogous to the Tern not 

 only in its forked tail, and in its choice of a breeding place, but also in the 

 boldness which it displays in the protection of its young. The parent birds 

 flew with impetuosity towards persons approaching their nests, and when 

 one was killed, its mate, though frequently fired at, continued on the wing 

 close to the spot. They were observed to get their food on the sea-beach, 



