( 148 ) 
The Arctick Bird, fuppofed to be the Cock.. 
T HIS Bird in Bignefs Teems to exceed a common Tame Pigeon. Some of its 
principal Meafures are as follow : The Bill from the Point to the Angles of the 
Mouth is one Inch and an half; to the Feathers on the Forehead only an Inch; the 
Wing (when clofed) is twelve Inches long ; the middle Feathers of the Tail are thirteen 
Inches long ; the Leg from the Kneedownward is near two Inches ; , the middle Toe 
an Inch and a Quarter. This Bird differs from the Gull [Leras] in having a different- 
made Bill, and weaker Legs, and fhorter Toes in Proportion to the Legs ; for the 
middle Toe in the Gull generally exceeds the Length of the Leg.This being found in 
the Northern Parts of America, near the Ar Click Circle , I have for Diftinftion impofed 
on iuhe above Name, in Oppoiition to that Sort of Gull with a long Tail, found about 
or between the Troptcks , commonly call’d the ‘Tropick Bird ; which is near the Size 
of our ArSlick Bird. 
The Bill is compreffed Sideways, hooked at the Point, and hath two Grooves on 
each Side of the upper Mandible, in the Loweft of which are placed the Npftrils, 
which are very dole ; the Point or Hook of the Bill is feparated from the other Part 
by a crofs Furrow ; it hath an Angle under the lower Mandible; the Point of the 
Bill is Blackilh, the Remainder of a dirty Flelh-Colour ; the Top of the Head is of 
a dulky or black Colour ; the Sides of the Head beneath the Eyes, the Throat, Neck . 
allround, the Breaft and Belly, are White ; the Thighs, lower Belly, and Coverts 
under the Tail are of a llghtr Afli-Colpur ; the' lower" Part of the Neck behind, the 
whole Back, the Wings (Both above and within Side) and the Tail are of a darkifh 
Affi-Colour ; the greater Quilts and the Tail-heathers being darkifh, approaching to ■ 
Black. The Shafts of a few of the outermoft of the Prime Quills are White ; the 
Wings are very long and narrow when fpread; the Tail-Feathers are fhorteft on the 
Sides, and gradually increafe in Length, to the two .middlemoff, which fuddenly 
fhoot out beyond the reft to a great Excefs ; the Legs are bare of Feathers above the 
Knees; . where they are of a black Colour ; from the Knees to the Feet they are of a 
bright-yellow Colour ; the Feet are Black, and the three Toes forward webbed as in 
Ducks; the hinder Toe is very final 1 ; the Hinder-parts of the Legs and Bottoms of 
the Feet are rough, like a File or Filh-lkin, in a very remarkable Manner ; .it hath but 
fmall Claws. 
This Bird was brought from Hudfcn’s-Bay by Mr. Ifbam , with one like it; which' 
I fuppofe to be its Hen ; tho’ ifhad not the long Feathers in the Tail. They are un- 
doubtedly Non-defcripts, and of a Genus, I think, of which I have not met with 
another Species. They are fomething like the Peteril Kind in the Bill, .but want the 
Pipe-like Noftriis on its upper Part. They have alfo a Back-Toe, whereas the Peterils 
have only a Nail or Claw : See the Peterils, P. 89, 90 of this Work. The Englijh 
at Hudpon's-Bay call the above defcrib’d a Man oj War Bird. By the Weaknefs of 
the Legs and Length of the Wings I fuppofe it to be much on the Wing ; . and I 
believe it is provided with rough Feet and Legs, in order to its fi m Handing on the . 
flimy Sides of dead floating Fillies, on which it is. likely they feed. . 
Ta- 
