LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 
39. Ivory Gull. Pagophila alba. 
Range. — Arctic regions; south in winter to the 
northern border of the United States. 
The little Snow Gull, as it is often called, is 
eighteen inches in length. In the breeding sea- 
son the plumage is entirely white; the bill is tip- 
ped with yellow and there is a red ring around 
the eye. These Gulls nest in large colonies in 
the Arctic Regions, placing their nests on the 
high rocky cliffs. The nest is made of grass, 
moss and rubbish, and the three eggs are laid 
during June. The eggs are olive color and the 
markings are dark brown. 
10. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla trydactyla. 
Range. — North Atlantic and Arctic regions, 
breeding from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence north- 
ward and wintering south to the Great Lakes and 
Long Island. 
The Kittiwake is sixteen inches in length, has 
a pearly gray mantle, black tips to the primaries, 
and remainder of plumage white. Its hind toe 
is very small being apparently wanting in the 
eastern form, while in the Pacific it is more de- 
veloped. These are very noisy Gulls, their notes 
resembling a repetition of their name. They are 
very common in the far north, placing nests on 
the ledges of high rocky cliffs, often in company 
with Murres and Auks. They gather together a 
pile of sticks, grass and moss, making the inter- 
ior cup-shaped so as to hold their two or three 
eggs. Large numbers of them breed on Bird 
Rock, 
Ivory Gull 
Kittiwake 
White 
they occupying certain 
ledges while the Gannets and 
Murres, which also breed there, 
also have distinct ledges on 
which to make their homes. 
The breeding season is at its 
height during June. The eggs 
are huffy or brownish gray and 
are spotted with different shades 
of brown. Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data. 
— So. Labrador, June 15, 1884. 
Three eggs. Nest made of sea- 
weed and moss, placed on ledge 
of cliff. Many Murres nesting 
on other ledges. 
