64 
HISTORY OF 
SABINE’S XEME. 
Xema Sabini. Leach. 
Very little appears to be known with respect to the habits 
of this bird. It was first observed by Captain Sabine in Green- 
land ; his account will be found in the twelfth volume of the 
(i Linnean Transactions.” Mr. Thompson, in volume ten of 
the “ London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine,” men- 
tions*, two specimens having been obtained in Ireland. 
The adult bird, in summer, has the head and upper part of 
the neck of a dark slate or lead colour, immediately below which 
is a collar of black ; under plumage, and remaining part of the 
neck, white; primaries, black tipped, and, with the edges of 
the inner webs, white ; back, greyish ash ; scapulars, wing 
coverts, and secondaries, of the same colour ; remainder of the 
