( 148 ) 
The Arctick Bird, fuppofed to be the Cock.. 
T HIS Bird in Bignefs feems to exceed a common Tame Pigeon. Some of its 
principal Meafures are as follow : The Bill from the Point to the Angles of the 
Mouth is one Inch and an half 5 to the Feathers on the Forehead only an Inch; the 
Wing (when clofed) is twelve Inches long ; the middle Feathers of the Tail are thirteen 
Inches long; the Leg from the Knee downward is near two Inches; the middle Toe 
an Inch and a Quarter. This Bird differs from the Gull [. Lams] in having a different- 
made Bill, and weaker Legs, and fhorter Toes in Proportion to the Legs; for the 
middle Toe in the Gull generally exceeds the Length of the Leg.This being found in 
the Northern Parts of America , near the ArClick Circle , I .have for Diftindtion impofed 
on it the above Name,in Oppofition to that Sort of Gull with a long Tail, found about 
or between the Propicks , commonly call’d the Propick- Bird ^. which is near the Size 
of our ArClick Bird. 
The Bill is compreffed Sideways, hooked" at the Point, and hath two Grooves on 
each Side- of the upper Mandible, in the Lowed; of which are placed the Noftrils, 
which are very clofe; the Point or Hook of the Bill is feparated from the other Part 
by a crofs Furrow it hath an Angle-under the lower Mandible; the Point of the 
Bill is Blackifh, the Remainder of a dirty Flefh-Colour ; the Top of the Head is of 
a dufky or black Colour; the Sides of the Head beneath the Eyes, the Throat, Neck 
allround, the Bread; and Belly are White; the Thighs, lower Belly, and Coverts 
under the Tail are of a light Afh-Colour; the lower Part of the Neck behind, the 
whole Back, the Wings (both above and within Side) and the Tail are of a darkifh 
Afh-Colour; the greater Quills and the Tail-Feathers being darkifh, approaching to • 
Black. The Shafts, of. a few of the outermoft of the Prime Quills are White 3 . the 
Wings are very long and narrow when fpread; the Tail-Feathers are fhorteft on the 
Sides, and gradually increafe in Length, to the two middlcmod;, which fuddenly 
fhoot out beyond the red: to a great Excefs; the Legs are bare of Feathers above the 
Knees, where they are of a black Colour; from the Knees to the Feet they are of a 
bright-yellow Colour ; the Feet are Black, and the three Toes forward webbed as in 
Ducks 3 the hinder Toe is very fmall; the Hinder-parts of the Legs and Bottoms of 
the Feet are rough, like a File or Fifh-fkin, in a very remarkable Manner; it hath but 
fmall Claws. 
This Bird was brought from Hudfon’s-Bay by Mr. Ifham , with one like it, which 
X fuppofe to be its Hen ; tho’ it had not the long Feathers in the Tail. They are un¬ 
doubtedly Non-defcripts, and of a Genus, I think, of which I have not met with 
another Species. They are fomething like the Peteril Kind in the Bill, but want the 
Pipe-like Nodrils on its upper Part. They have alfo a Back-Toe, whereas the Peterils 
have only a Nail or Claw : See the Peterils, P. 89, 90 of this Work, The EngliJM 
at Hudfon's-Bay call the above defcrib’d a Man op War Bird .. By the Weaknefs of 
the Legs and Length of the Wings I fuppofe it to be much on the Wing; and I 
believe it is provided with rough Feet and Legs, .in order to its h m handing on the . 
hlmy Sides of dead floating Fifhes, on which it is likely they .feed 3 . . - 
The 
