13 
ROSS’ GULL. 
Larus Rossii, Richardson. 
(NOT FIGURED.) 
Not having met with this beautiful little Gull, I am obliged to refer to 
Dr Richardson’s description of it in the Fauna Boreali- Americana. 
“ Cuneate-tailed Gull, with a pearl-grey mantle. Wings longer than the 
cuneiform tail. The outer web of the first tail-feather blackish ; a slender 
black bill, tarsi an inch long, and, as well as the feet, vermilion red. 
“ Two specimens of this Gull were killed on the coast of Melville Penin- 
sula, on Sir Edward Parry’s second voyage, one of which is preserved in 
the Museum of the University of Edinburgh, and the other was presented 
to Joseph Sabine, Esq. No other examples are known to exist in collec- 
tions ; but Commander Ross, in his Zoological Appendix to Sir Edward 
Parry’s narrative of his most adventurous boat-voyage towards the Pole, 
relates that several were seen during the journey over the ice north of 
Spitzbergen, and that Lieutenant Forster also found the species in Waygait 
Straits, which is probably one of its breeding places. It is to Commander 
Ross, who killed the first specimen which was obtained, that the species is 
dedicated, as a tribute for his unwearied exertions in the promotion of natural 
history on the late Arctic voyages, in all of which- he bore a part. Of the 
peculiar habits or winter retreat of this species nothing is known. 
“Description of a specimen killed, June 1823, at Alagnak, Melville 
Peninsula, lat. 69U N. 
“ Colour. — Scapulars, inter-scapulars, and both surfaces of the wings clear 
pearl-grey ; outer web of the first quill blackish-brown to the tip, which is 
grey ; tips of the scapulars and lesser quills whitish. Some small feathers 
near the eye, and a collar round the middle of the neck pitch black; rest of 
the plumage white. The neck above and the 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 vermilion-red 
nails blackish. 
“ Form. — Bill slender, weak, with a scarcely perceptible salient angle 
beneath; the upper mandible slightly arched and compressed towards the 
point; the commissure slightly curved at the tip. Wings an inch longer 
