60 
rounding community than if it were drained and its small acreage brought 
under cultivation. A few hundred acres are an inappreciable addition 
to the sum total of productive land and may at times be bought at too high 
a price. Consideration should be given to this factor sometimes before 
the last bits of reclamation are undertaken. 
60. Bonaparte’s Gull. Lotus Philadelphia. L, 14, Plate IV A. 
Distinctions. Likely to be confused only with Franklin’s Gull and with it only in 
the Prairie Provinces. It can be distinguished from that species by its slightly lighter 
mantle and large amount of white on 
the wings (wrists and most of the 
primaries pure white instead of slate 
grey) (Figure 99, compare with Figure 
98). The bill is black in all ages 
instead of maroon and the feet vary 
with age and season from flesh- 
coloured to coral red instead of from 
black to dull maroon. In both species 
the rosy suffusion of the underparts 
is evanescent and not always present, 
quickly fading to white alter death 
and exposure to light. The juvenile 
can best be distinguished by the wing 
pattern in which the primaries contain large white areas and the wrist is almost 
all white. 
Field Marks. The whiteness of the wings, and prominent white wrists make the best 
field mark for all plumages. The coral legs and black bill also assist in recognition. Either 
this or Franklin’s Gull can be distinguished from the Terns, which they may resemble in 
life, by the decided wing pattern instead of the pale, even greyness of those species. 
Nesting. Almost unknown. Said to nest in trees at times, a wide departure from 
custom in this class of birds. 
Distribution. Across the continent during migration. The only nests reported have 
been in the far northwest and the interior of Alaska. In migration common throughout 
all parts of southern Canada. 
Economic Status. Much that has been said of Franklin’s Gull might 
be repeated here as it often joins flocks of that species and has veiy similar 
habits, though it does not spend as much time in cultivated sections. 
61. Ross’s Gull, noss’s rosy gull, wedge-tailed gull. Rhodostethia rosea. L, 
14. (Projection of centre tail feather, 1). A pale-mantled Gull with white head, and 
fine black collar line. Tail wedge-shaped, graduated from long centre feather. 
Distinctions. The above description of adult is unlike any other bird it is 
likely to be compared with. The juvenile resembles, in general, parallel plumages of 
the black-headed Gulls. The secondaries and secondary coverts of Ross’s Gull are 
largely white, showing even more white than Sabine’s Gull, and the tail is wedge-shaped 
instead of forked. 
Field Marks. A small white-headed Gull with large amount of white in wings and a 
wedge-shaped tail. 
Nesting. On the ground, near tundra lakes and ponds. 
Distribution. The high Arctic regions, nearly circumpolar. Reported to breed in 
northeastern Asia and Greenland, but not reported as doing so north of American 
continent. 
This species is one of the very rarest of the Gulls and has not been 
recorded south of Norton sound, Alaska. Within Canadian limits we 
have only a few scattered records from the Arctic islands. It is not to be 
expected elsewhere in Canada. 
Figure 99 
Wing of Bonaparte’s Gull; scale, I. 
