LARLNiK. 
1.  S.  parasiticus  (Briinn.)  Orn.  Bor.  127-  — Catarractes  parasita 
Pall. ; Lestris  Richardsoiii  Swains.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  441 ., 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.pl.  272. 
2.  S.  Cephas  (Briinn.)  Orn.  Bor.  126.,  PI.  enl.  991.762. — 
Lestris  parasiticus  Swains. ; L.  crepidatus  Temm. ; L.  BufFoni  Boie, 
Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  442.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  267- 
3.  S.  pomarinus  Temm.  Man.  d’Orn.  ii.  p.,  Briss.  Orn.  vi.  t.  13.  f. 
2.  — Catarractes  parasita  var.  camtschatica  Pall.  ; Larus  parasiticus 
Meyer,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  440.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  253. 
Stercorarius  Lessonii  Degland.  ? 
4.  catarrhactes  (\j\rm.')  — Catarracta  skua  BrSwn.  Gould,  B- 
of  Eur.  pi.  439. ; Larus  fuscus  Briss. ; Stercorarius  pomarinus 
Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  288. 
5.  S.  antarctious  (Less.)  — Lestris  cataractes  Q,uoy  df  Gmni. 
Voy.  de  I’Uranie,  Ois.  t.  38. 
Rhodostethia  Macmll.'^ 
O 
Bill  short,  slender,  straight,  with  the  culmen  straight  at  the  base  and  curved  at  the  tip,  the  sides 
compressed,  the  gonys  short,  advancing  upwards,  and  scarcely  angulated  ; the  nostrils  lateral  and 
submedial.  Wings  lengthened  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and 
wedge-shaped.  Tarsi  strong,  as  long  as  the  middle  toe.  Toes  moderate,  the  anterior  ones  united  by  ^ 
full  web ; the  hind  toe  short  and  elevated. 
The  type  of  this  genus  was  taken  in  the  high  northern  latitudes.  Its  habits  and  manners  have  not  been  observed- 
It  may  be  only  a young  bird. 
R.  Rossii  (Sabine)  Macgill.  — Larus  roseus  Jard,  Selby,  III.  Orn.  pi.  14.,  Wils.  lllustr.  Zool.  pi.  8. 
Larus  Linn.'\ 
Bill  more  or  less  strong,  as  long  as  or  shorter  than  the  head,  straight,  and  laterally  compressed, 
with  the  culmen  straight  at  the  base,  and  arched  to  the  tip,  the  gonys  slightly  angulated  and  advanciHo 
upwards  ; the  nostrils  lateral,  Avith  the  opening  near  the  middle  of  the  bill,  and  longitudinal, 
lengthened  and  pointed,  Avith  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  ev^en.  Tarsi  nearly  as 
as  the  middle  toe,  strong,  and  covered  in  front  with  transverse  scales.  Toes  moderate,  the  anterior 
ones  united  by  a full  Aveb  ; the  hind  toe  short  and  elevated. 
These  birds  are  scattered  over  the  marine  portions  of  the  entire  Avorld  ; sometimes  during  the  spring  and  summer 
they  are  found  in  flocks  in  the  marshes,  on  the  borders  of  rivers,  and  in  the  cultivated  lands,  where  they  seek  for 
worms,  insects,  and  their  larvm.  They  return  to  the  sea  coast  on  the  approach  of  autumn  and  winter,  subsisting 
principally  on  small  fish  and  worms,  Avhich  they  obtain  from  the  refuse  left  on  the  shore  after  the  tide  retires,  and  are 
especially  fond  of  the  spawn  of  crustaceous  animals.  These  birds  attack  the  Aveaker  species  as  soon  as  they  observe  that 
they  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  catch  a fish,  when  they  dart  down  upon  them,  and  cause  them  instantly  to  disgorg® 
their  prize.  If  the  Avinter  proves  severe,  these  birds  migrate  further  south,  until  they  find  a more  genial  climate.  Their 
flight  is  easy  and  buoyant;  and,  Avhen  about  to  migrate,  the  flock  ascends  to  a considerable  height,  and  then  moves  oft 
in  a continuous  line  to  its  destination.  The  nest  is  formed  of  dry  coarse  grass  or  sea  weeds,"  wherein  are  deposited 
three  or  four  eggs. 
0/  Ornith.  ii.  252.)  in  the  place  of  Rossia,  which  had  been  established  in  ’ 
* This  was  proposed  hy  Mr.  Macgillivray  in  1 842  {Man. 
as  that  name  had  been  previously  employed. 
AT  ^ that  Linmeus  established  this  genus.  Leucus,  Gavia,  Ichthyaetus,  and  HydrocoUeus  of  M.  Kaup  (1829), 
51;.  SttL^id  -‘h  the  word  employed.  This  latter  name  was  changed 
