NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
311 
Does the female of this species have a brown head ? I am inclined to the 
contrary opinion. If Audubon’s assertion to the fact of having seen Gulls 
with brown heads be true, they were probably of a different species. 
[All the preceding species of Chroicocephalus acquire during the breeding 
season, a beautiful delicate rosy blush on the white of the under parts.] 
C. — Very small; bill exceedingly slender and compressed; tarsus shorter 
than the middle toe and claw. 
22. Chroicocephalus minutus Bruch ex Gmel. 
Larus, minutus , Gmel. 1*788. Hydrocoloeus minutus, YLnxxp, 1829. Xema minu- 
tum , Bp. 1838. Gavia minuta, Macgill. 1842. Chroicocephalus minutus , 
Bruch, 1855. Larus melanotis, Lesson, fide Bruch. 
Sp. Char. — Smallest of the genus. Length 11-50. Bill above *90, along gape 
1-40; tarsus, *90, middle toe and claw 1*10. Under surface of wings deep blackish 
slate. 
Habitat. — Europe. ? Northern North America (accidental.) 
Professor Baird thinks that there is no good reason to consider this bird an 
inhabitant of or even a visitor to North America. It has been included in our 
fauna on the strength of a statement of Sabine, who saw a small Gull, with 
black head and bill, greatly resembling the Larus minutus. This, however, was 
before Larus Bonapartei (Chroicocephalus Philadelphia) was described and made 
known by Richardson in the F. B. A., and a poorly preserved or immature speci- 
men might easily be referred to Larus minutus by one ignorant of the existence 
of two species. 
Genus VI. Rhodostethia Macgill. 
Rossia , Bp. 1838; (nec Owen.) 
Rhodostethia , Macgill. 1842 ; (t. Larus roseus Macgill.) 
23. Rhodostethia rosea Bp. ex Macgill. 
^Larus rosetis, Macgill. 1824; descriptio nulla. Rhodostethia rosea, Bp. Ros- 
sia rosea. Bp. 18 Larus Rossii, Richardson, 1826 ; descriptio hujus avis 
prima. Rhodostethia Rossii, Macgill. 
Sp. CJiar . — u Scapulars, inter-scapulars, and both surfaces of the wings clear 
peart gray ; out^r web of the first quill blackish brown to its tip, which is gray ; 
tips of the scapular and lesser quills whitish. Some small feathers near the eye, 
and a collar round the middle of the neck, pitch-black. Rest of plumage white, 
the neck above and whole under plumage deeply tinged with peach blossom red 
in recent specimens. Bill black, its rictus and the edges of the eyelids reddish 
orange. Legs and feet vermillion red ; nails blackish. Length 14 inches, wing 
10*5, tail 5-5. Bill above, *75, along gape 1.25, tarsus 1. — 1-12.” (Richardson). 
Habitat. Arctic Regions. 
We have never had the pleasure of examining a specimen of this exquisite Gull, 
and are therefore obliged to copy the description from Richardson. This au- 
thor admits that the bird was named Larus roseus the year before he called it 
L. Rossii ; but claims precedence for his name, on the ground that his was the 
first published description. 
Genus VII. Xema Leach. 
Xema, Leach, 1818 ; (fide Gen. Rep. t. Larus Sabini, J. Sab.) 
Gavia Macgill. 1842. p. 
24. Xema Sabini Leach ex Sab. 
Larus Sabini, J. Sab. 1818. Xema Sabini, Leach, 1825. Gavia Sabini , Mac- 
gill. 1842. 
Sp. Char . — Adult, breeding plumage. Bill black to the angle, abruptly bright 
chrome from angle to tip. Mouth bright orange ; eyelids orange ; legs and feet 
black. Hood uniform clear deep slate, bounded inferiorly by a band, narrowest 
1862.] 
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