

THE KITTIWAKE GULL. 149 



head. This species was so abundant on several of the islands of the Bay of 

 Boston, that several basketsful of them were procured in the course of a few 

 excursions. When one fell to the water, the rest would hover about and 

 around tbe boat, until many were shot from a flock. The case was the same 

 while we were in some of the harbours of Labrador. 



Larus tridactylus, Bonap. Syn., p. 359. 



Larus tridactylus, Kittiwake, Swains, and Rich. P. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 423. 



Kittiwake, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 298. 



Kittiwake Gdll, Larus tridactylus, Aud. Orn. Biog\, vol. iii. p. 186. 



Adult, IS, 36£. 



Common as far south as New York. Abundant from Massachusetts east- 

 ward. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy northward. 



Adult in summer. 



Bill shorter than the head, strong, nearly straight, compressed. Upper 

 mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight and slightly declinate, until 

 towards the end, when it is decurved, the ridge convex, the sides slightly 

 convex, the edges a little inflected, straight, towards the end declinate and 

 arched, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal groove narrow, rather long; nostril in 

 its fore part, lateral, longitudinal, linear, wider anteriorly, open, and pervious. 

 Lower mandible with a slight prominence at the end of the angle, which is 

 long and narrow, the dorsal line then nearly straight and ascending, the 

 sides convex, the edges sharp and inflected. 



Head rather large, oblong, anteriorly compressed. Neck of moderate 

 length. Body rather full. Wings long. Feet of moderate length, rather 

 strong; tibia bare below; tarsus somewhat compressed, covered before and 

 behind with numerous broad scutella, the sides reticulated; hind toe rudi- 

 mentary, with a minute knob in place of the claw; the fore toes rather long 

 and slender, the fourth longer than the second, all scutellate above, and con- 

 nected by reticulated entire membranes, the lateral toes margined externally 

 with a narrow membrane. Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, rather 

 obtuse. 



The plumage in general is close, elastic, very soft and blended, on the back 

 somewhat compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute, the first quill 

 longest, the other primaries rapidly graduated; secondaries broad and rounded, 

 the inner elongated and narrow. Tail of moderate length, even, of twelve 

 rounded feathers. 



Bill pale greenish-yellow. Edges of eyelids crimson; iris reddish-brown. 

 Feet black. The head, neck, rump, tail, and lower parts generally are pure 

 white. The back and upper surface of the wings light pearl-grey. The 



