10 
THE FORKED-TAILED GULL. 
biunt. Plumage close, soft, blended, on the back and wings ra'ther compact. 
Wings very long, pointed ; first and second quills longest; secondaries broad, 
the inner more elongated. Tail of moderate length, generally even, rarely 
rounded or emarginate, of twelve feathers. In those which have the head 
white in summer, it is streaked with dusky in winter ; and those which are 
nooded in summer, have the head white and slightly streaked in winter. 
THE FORKED -TAIL ED GULL. 
Larus Sabini, Sabine . 
PLATE CCUCXLI— Male. 
On my return from Labrador, I had the pleasure of seeing this interesting 
little Gull flying over the harbour of Halifax in Nova Scotia. It was in 
company with our Common American Gull. Although I have not observed 
it on our eastern shores or farther south on the coast, it is not improbable 
that it rambles there in winter along with other species which, like itself, 
breed far north. Its flight in some measure resembles that of the Common 
Tern, although it is more decided, and, consequently, more like that of the 
smaller species of its own genus. In the course! of a voyage from Pictou 
in Nova Scotia to Hull in England, lately performed by my friend Mr. 
Thomas MacCulloch, he saw great numbers of this species when more 
than a hundred miles off Newfoundland. They flew around the ship in 
company with an almost equal number of Ross’ Gull. 
Dr. Richardson gives the following account of the Forked- tailed Gull, 
in the Fauna Boreali- American a-. “ This interesting species, of Gull was 
discovered by Captain Edward Sabine. It was first seen, on the 25th of 
July at its breeding station on some low rocky islands lying off the west 
coast of Greenland, associated in considerable numbers with the Arctic Tern, 
the nests of both birds being intermingled. It is analogous to the Tern not 
only in its forked tail, and in its choice of a breeding place, but also in the 
boldness which it displays in the protection of its young. The parent birds 
flew with impetuosity towards persons approaching their nests, and when 
one was killed, its mate, though frequently fired at, continued on the wing 
close to the spot. They were observed to get their food on the sea-beach, 
