SABINE'S GULL.
LA RUS SABINI, J. Sabine.
Larus sabini, / . Sabine, Trans. Linn. Soc. xh. p. 522 (1818).
Larus sabinii, Naum. xiii. pt. 2, p. 272.
Gavia sabini, Macg. v. p. 607.
Xema sabinii, Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 573 ; Dresser, viii. p. 337.
This bird is an irregular and scarce visitor to our
country from high northern latitudes. I have never
met with Sabine's Gull alive ; but gather from our recent
authorities that between thirty and forty occurrences
have been recorded in our Islands; that, with few
exceptions, these occurrences have taken place during
the months of August, September, and October, and
that the specimens obtained have, with very few exceptions,
been young birds of the year.
I am indebted to Mr. J. Backhouse for the loan of
two specimens of this species in skin, for the use of
this work : these two Gulls were obtained near Bridlington,
in September 1890, and from one of them
the figure of the immature bird in the Plate was
taken. I find that Sabine's Gull has recently been
discovered breeding in large numbers in the marshes
of Alaska.