RISSA KOTZEBUI .
PA C IM C KITTIWAKE.
RISSA NIVEA. Bruch.
RISSA BREVIROSTRIS.
RISSA KOTZEBUI. Boni
Con. Larid. Cab. Journ, (1853), p
jawr. B. óf N. Ani., p, 855.
Consp. Geu.Av. (Ì'857), p. 226. CòUEs.' Rev. of the Gulls of N. Am., Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1862), p. 305.
This bird comes from the north-west coast of America, and bears a very close resemblance to, the Kittiwake (Bissa Tridactylw) of our
own shores. The chief differences are, that the Pacific Kittiwake has a somewhat longer bill, and a more developed hind toe; rather
unsatisfactory variations, it must be confessed, -to establish a species of Gull upon. The specimen from which the figure in the plate
was drawn is a young bird, but the only one obtainable, for although it is common enough in its accustomed places of resort, but few
examples have yet been procured for the cabinet. I am not aware that a fully adult bird is in any American collection, Dr, Codes
not even h aving had one when he was investigating this family; and until such are received, the exact relationship existing between
.this bircTand the common Kittiwake cannot, with any degree of certainty, be established. The mere fact of a widely different habitat,
would, not, of itself, suffice for considering them distinct.
Nothing is known of its economy or habits.
The specimen may be described as follows:
Head and neck white, excepting a post ocular spot and nape, which are dark gray. Mantle grayish blue. Primaries blackish brown,
with black shafts, the inner webs white at the base, this hue narrowing as it proceeds towards the tips. The white increases in extent
and width on the different feathers, unto the fifth primary, which is bluish white, with _a brownish black tip, and a dusky hue running
along the shaft. Remainder o f primaries similar to the back, but lighter, becoming white on their edges. "Secondaries white,, for almost
their entire length. Rest of plumage pure white; an indistinct, imperfect, subterminal dusky bar on the tail.
Bill yellowish, tinged with olive; tip dusky. Tarsi and feet olivaceous.
The figure is life-size.
R I S S A N I V E A ,
TELLOW-BILLED GULL.
LARUS NIVEUS. Pam.. Zoog. Ross. Asiat. Vol. II. (1810), p. 320, PI. XXIV.
LARUS BRACHYRHYNCHUS. Gould. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1843).
RISSA NIVEA. L awr. Rep. P. R. R., p. 855.
RISSA BRACHYRHYNCHUS. Codes. Rev. Larid., Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1862), p. 306.
This rare species is a native of Kamschatka, but probably, in some of its wanderings, it visits our own shores. A single specimen
is in the collection of the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia, and is represented in my plate. Nothing has been recorded of its
habits, the distant regions where it finds its home being too difficult o f access to enable many ornithologists to become acquainted
with it in its haunts.
There seems to be a certain amount of doubt among naturalists as to what is the proper, name for this bird; whether it is
the Larus Niveus of P allas, or the Rissa Brachyrhynchus of Gould. P allas gives an imperfect, unsatisfactory description, aud refers to
a previous species (L. Cachinmns), when speaking of the primaries, which, if they should be identical in their markings, would, of
necessity, make P allas’ bird a very different species from the one here represented. But the figure which he gives in the plate above
referred to, and which is certainly a very good one, presents to us a, bird almost, if not entirely, identical with the one exhibited
in my plate. I say almost, as there are a few slight discrepancies, which have been deemed by some authors as sufficient to throw
P allas’ species on one side, so far as regards its claim to be considered the same as the present bird. The text says the bill is virescente-
flavum. The plate exhibits it as yellow. In the description, the feet are said to be fusel; in the plate they are brownish. The
text refers the primaries to L. Cachinmns, which are black, with apical white spots. The plate represents these as they are in the