GLAUCOUS GULL. 
249 
This large species is almost wholly confined to the hyper - 
boreal regions, where it inhabits both continents indifferently. 
It is common in Russia, Greenland, and in all the Arctic and 
polar seas. In Baffin’s Bay and the adjoining straits and coasts 
it is seen in considerable numbers during the summer. Its 
winter resorts are yet unknown. From its great rarity in the 
United States it is probable that this Gull may not migrate far 
from its summer residence, as there can be no reason why it 
should proceed south along the Pacific in preference to the 
Atlantic coast. 
These birds are almost continually on the wing, uttering 
often a hoarse cry, like the Raven. They are extremely tyran- 
nical, greedy, and voracious, preying not only on fish and 
small birds, but also on carrion, and are said to attend on 
the walrus to feed on its excrement. They wrest prey from 
weaker birds, and are often seen hovering in the air or seated 
on some lofty pinnacle of ice, whence, having fixed their eye 
upon some favorite morsel, they dart down on the possessor, 
which, whether Fulmar, Guillemot, or Kittiwake, must instantly 
resign the prize. The Auk, as well as the young Penguin, they 
not only rob, but often wholly devour. Pressed by hunger, they 
sometimes even condescend to share the crow-berry with the 
Ptarmigan. When not impelled by hunger, they are rather 
shy and inactive birds, and much less clamorous than others of 
the genus. 
This species is decidedly boreal in its range, breeding in the 
Arctic Ocean and migrating to the shores of the northern seas. 
Farther south it is a straggler merely, though in the Bay of Fundy 
it is sometimes quite common in mid-winter. A few examples have 
been seen along the New England shores and on the Great 
Lakes. 
Nuttall has put into the few lines given above all the peculiar 
habits of the bird, which combine with some Gull-like traits many 
of the coarse characteristics of both the Falcon and Vulture. 
Some observers have reported that the flocks are at times very 
noisy, particularly when settling for the night ; but those I have 
met with in winter have been rather silent. Their cry is harsh, and 
at times very loud j it sounds something like the syllables kuk-lak , 
— I have seen it written cut-leek. 
