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XXXIV. A Memoir on the Birds of Greenland ; with Descriptions and Notes on the Species observed in the late Voyage of Discovery . in Davis’s Straits and Baffin’s Bay. By Captain Edward Sabine of the Royal Artillery, F.R.S. and L.S.

Read April 6, 1819.

I wave much pleasure in presenting to the Linnean Society a Memoir on the Birds of Greenland. In accompanying the expedi- tion which sailed last year in search of a North-West passage, I had opportunities, when not engaged in the official duties which I was sent to perform, of making some observations on the Orni- thology of that part of the world.

Of fifty species enumerated by various authors as having been found in Greenland, twenty-four fell under my notice: some in- teresting facts relating to these have been ascertained, and four other species have been added to the list, one of which has not been before described by any naturalist. That so few birds were seen is to be explained by the circumstance, that the ships very . rarely approached the shores so as to permit a landing; but it 's confidently hoped, that the voyage which is about to be under- taken will afford facilities for more extensive research.

I have confined my account to the birds seen either in Davis’s Straits or in Baffin’s Bay, omitting all notice of those observed on the voyage when we were nearer the shores of the British islands than those of any part of Greenland.

The works which have been generally quoted are the following :

Gmelin,

4

“SNil imo

(JUL 16 190U

HBR ARIES

528 Capt. Sanrtne’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, &c.

Gmelin, Systema Nature Linnei.

Latham’s General Synopsis of Birds. Latham’s Index Ornithologicus.

Fabricit Fauna Groenlandica.

Briinnichii Ornithologia Borealis.

Pennant’s Arctic Zoology.

Linnei Fauna Suecica, Editio altera. Miiller, Zoologie Danice Prodromus. Temminck, Manuel d’Ornithologie.

Wilson’s American Ornithology.

Pennant’s British Zoology. Second edition. Montagu’s Ornithological Dictionary and Supplement.

I did not consider it expedient to introduce the synonyms of or reference to any other authors than those above mentioned, except the particular circumstance of any individual case required it; where such occurs, the title of the work will appear in the refe-

rence itself. 1. Fatco Istanpicus. Jerfalcon.

F, Islandicus. Gmel. i. 275. Lath. Ind. Orn.i. 832. Temm. $3.—White Iceland Falcon.

Lath. Syn.i. 71.—F. Candicans. Gmel. i. 275.—W hite Jerfalcon. Lath. Syn. i. 83. & Supp. 21.—Gyrfalcon. Arct. Zool. ii. 221. Br. Zool. i. 217.—Jerfalcon. Mont. Dict. &§ Supp—F. Islandus. Gmel. i. 271. Fabr. 58. Briin. no. 7 & 8. Miill. no. 73.— Spotted Iceland Falcon. Lath. Syn. i. 71.—F. Rusticolus. Gmel. i. 268. Fabr. 55. Faun. Suec.19. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 28.—Collared Falcon. Arct. Zool. ii. 222. Lath. Syn. i. 50. * YOUNG Birps. F. Gyrfalco. Gmel.i.275. Lath. Ind. Orn.i.32. Faun. Suec. 22.—F. Fuscus. Fabr. 56. Briin. no. 9—F. Sacer. Gmel.i.273. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 34.—Sacre Falcon. Lath. Syn.i. 77 & 78. & Supp. 20. Arct. Zool. ii. 202.— Dusky Falcon. Arct. Zool. ii. 220.—American Falcon. Lath. Syn. Supp. 38.—Brown Jer- falcon. Lath. Syn. i. 82.—Iceland Falcon. Lath. Syn.i. 70. Arct. Zool. ii. 216.— Greenland Falcon. Lath. Syn. Supp. 36.

The Jerfalcon was seen in a single instance at Baffin’s Three Islands, on the west coast of Greenland, in lat. 74°. It was

wounded, but got away. The

Capt. Sanrtnr’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 529

The progress of this bird from youth, when it is quite brown, to the almost perfect whiteness of its maturity, forms a succession of changes in which each individual feather gradually loses a portion of its brown as the white edging on the margin increases in breadth from year to year; such has been the cause of the variety of synonyms which have been referred to.

2. Fatco Perecrinus. Peregrine Falcon.

F. Peregrinus. Gmel.i. 272. Lath. Ind. Orn.i. 33. Temm. 34.—Peregrine Falcon. Br. Zool. i. 218. Arct. Zool. ii. 202. Lath. Syn.i.73.& Supp. 18. Mont. Dict. & Supp. —F. Communis. Gmel. i. 270. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 30.—Common Falcon. Lath. Syn.i.65.—Lanner. Br. Zool. i. 223.—Great-footed Hawk. Wil. Am. Orn. ix. 120.

Killed in the third week of September in lat. 66° N. and long. 58° W., and therefore most probably from America. Fabricius does not mention this bird as an inhabitant of Greenland. The specimen from which the note is taken was a young bird, and re- mained for some hours about the ship in company with three others. I have not hesitated to add the synonym of the IF. com- munis to the other received ones of this species; the French spe- cimens under that name fully proving the identity. The broad black line or patch, extending from the eye down to the throat, is a distinguishing mark of this bird, and of the Falco Subbuteo, or Hobby, in the various states of their plumage; the difference in size of the two species will always prevent their being con- founded.

I suspect that the Falco Lannarius of Briinnich is a Merlin, and therefore have not referred to it. ‘The Lanner of the British Zoology is a young Peregrine Falcon; but the I. Lannarius of Linneus and Gmelin, of Latham and others, as well as the Lanner of the Arctic Zoology and of Latham’s Synopsis, is a distinct spe- cies (as I am informed by M.'Temminck) common in Russia, Po- land, and Hungary, to which also the F. Stellaris and Starry Fal- con of authors must be referred, being the same bird in a younger

state.

530 Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, &c.

state. These have hitherto been usually referred to as synonyms of the F. Peregrinus.

3. Corvus Corax. Raven.

C. Corax. Gmel.i.364. Lath. Ind. Orn.i. 150. Temm. 66. Fabr. 62. Faun. Suec. 29. Mill. no. 86. Briin. no. 8.—Raven. Lath. Syn. i. 367. & Supp. 74. Arct. Zool. ii. 245. Br. Zool. i. 279. Mont. Dict. & Supp. Wil. Am. Orn. 1x. 113.

Killed at Hare Island, and seen on the west coast of Greeniand in lat. 753°. We did not notice a pied one, although such a vari- ety is said to be common in arctic countries.

4. Tretrao Lacorus. Ptarmigan. T. Lagopus. Gmel.i. 749. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 639. Faun. Suec. 73. Briin. nos. 198 § 199. Fabr.114. Mill. no. 223. Temm. 298.—Ptarmigan. Lath. Syn. iv. 741. Br. Zool. i. 359. Arct. Zool. ii. 315. Mont. Dict. § Supp—T. Rupestris. Gmel. i. 751. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 640.—Rock Grous. Lath. Syn. Supp. 217. Arct. Zool. ii. $12.

Killed June 19th at Hare Island. The females were laying: they had been abundant, but only a few were left on our arrival, several whalers having anchored there before us, the crews of which had destroyed them. Were I not quite satisfied of the iden- tity of the species, the difference of the plumage of these birds would seem to justify a persuasion that they are distinct ; but in all essential characteristics they are the T. Lagopus. ‘The pecu- liarities which are to be noticed have escaped the attention even of Fabricius; who nevertheless describes these birds as seen du- ring the summer. The period when they fell under my observa- tion being that of their full breeding season, it must unquestion- ably be allowed that they were in perfect summer plumage. ‘The male birds were wholly white, with the exception of the black line from the bill to the eye, of the under tail-feathers, and a very few scattered black feathers on the top of the head: even the shafts of the large quill-feathers were white ; the females had not

the usual portion of white on the breast; the coverings of the legs

Capt. Savinr’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 531

legs were white, as were the quill-feathers, but the shafts of these were dark ; the whole of the coloured plumage was more rich and gaudy than in Scottish specimens. In the latter the ash-colour predominates, in the Greenland Ptarmigan the orange. The bars of brow are also broader and deeper in the Greenland specimens.

5. Emperiza Nivatts. Snow Bunting.

E. Nivalis. Gmel. i. 866. Lath. Ind. Orn.i.397. Temm.188. Faun. Suec. 82. Briin. nos. 245 § 246. Mill. no. 250. Fabr. 117.—Snow Bunting. Lath. Syn. iii. 161. & Supp. 157. Br. Zool. i. 444. Arct. Zool. ii. 355. Mont. Dict. Supp. & Appen. Wil. Am. Orn. iii. 36.—E. Glacialis. Lath. Ind. Orn. i.398.—Tawny Bunting. Lath. Syn. iii. 164. Br. Zool. i. 442. Mont. Dict. & Supp—E. Montana. Gmel. i. 867. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 398.—Mountain Bunting. Lath. Syn. iii. 165. Br. Zool.i. 445, Mont. Dict. & Supp.

These birds were abundant in Hare Island on the west coast of Greenland, lat. 70° 26’, in the month of June, and were breed- ing there. We also saw them on the western coast of Davis’s Straits, about the same latitude, in September. Fabricius has well described their nest as formed externally of grass, next of feathers, and lined with the hair of foxes. Eggs four or five, dirty white, spotted with ash-colour and yellowish brown ; the nests are placed in ledges of the rocks. The song of the male bird was noticed fre- quently. Notwithstanding the deference which is due to the general accuracy of Montagu, I have ventured to place the Snow, T'awny and Mountain Buntings together, believing them to be the same species in different states of plumage, the effects of age, sex, or climate. Those seen at Hare Island exactly corre- spond to the Snow Bunting of Montagu, and those on the opposite coast to the Tawny Bunting.

6. Sytvia OENANTHE. Wheatear. Motacilla Oenanthe. Gmel.1.966. Faun. Suec.93. Fabr. 122. Briin. nos. 245 & 246: Miull.no.274.—S. Oenanthe. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 529. Temm.135.—Wheatear. Lath. Syn. iv. 465.§ Supp. 182. Br. Sool. i.521. Arct. Zool. ii. 420. Mont. Dict. & Supp.

VOL. XII. 32 This

532 Capt. Sasine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, &c.

This species was not seen on the shores of Greenland on which we landed: but on our return homewards in October, off Cape Farewell, a few were seen at a distance from the land, doubtless on their passage southward. In our outward voyage, in May, we also met with them in lat. 60° N. and long. 13° W., then most probably migrating northward.

7. Trinca Maritima. Purple Sandpiper. T. Maritima. Gmel.i. 678. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 731. Briin. no. 182. Mill. no. 206. —Selninger, Sandpiper. Arct. Zool. 11. 480. Lath. Syn. v. 173. & 2d Supp. 312. Br. Zool. ii. 80.—T. Striata. Gmel. i. 672. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 733. Fabr. 107.— Striated Sandpiper. Arct. Zool. 1.472. Lath. Syn. v. 176.—Sea Sandpiper. Mark- wick in Linn. Trans. iv. 22.—T. Nigricans. Montagu in Linn. Trans. iv. 40.—Purple Sandpiper. Mont. Dict. & Supp.

Fabricius was the first naturalist who knew this bird to be the same in all its changes of plumage; he called it T. Strzata; but it being now more generally known as 7. Maritima, I have given it that name, being what it is usually called when in its summer dress: the specimens killed at Hare Island in June, and at Possession Bay on the Ist of September, were in this plumage. In its winter state it has been called the 7. Striata, or Striated Sandpiper. As a British bird it has been described only in the latter plumage, and it is the Sea Sandpiper of Mr. Markwick, the Purple Sandpiper and Tringa Nigricans of Montagu. Temminck does not notice it in his Manuel. The Greenland specimens have been compared with two in my brother’s cabinet of British birds, the latter having been killed in winter: the difference of the plu- mage of the two seasons consists in the under parts during sum- mer having less of dusky and more of white; and the feathers of the back and scapulars being of a much deeper and richer colour, and beautifully marked with broad white edgings: a similar mark- ing is observable, but not so distinctly, on the back of the head

and

Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 533

and neck; there is also a little dash of ferruginous occasionally interspersed on the upper plumage. ‘This species was found in flocks of six and eight on a shingly beach.

8. T'risaa Cinerea. Knot or Red Sandpiper.

T. Cinerea. Temm. 404.

Summer. T. Islandica. Gmel. 1.682. Lath. Ind. Orn.ii. 737.—T. Ferruginea. Briin. no. 180. Miill. no. 203.—Red Sandpiper. Arct. Zool. 11. 476. Mont. Dict. & App. Lath. Syn. v. 186. Br. Zool. 11. 89.

WINTER. T.Cinerea. Gmel.i. 673. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 733. . Brun. no. 179. Mull. no. 202.—Ash-coloured Sandpiper. Lath. Syn. v.177. Br. Zool. 1.78. Arct. Zool. ii. 474. Mont. Dict. & Supp. Wil. Am. Orn. vii. 36.—T. Grisea. Gmel. i. 681. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 733.—Grizzled Sandpiper. Lath. Syn. v. 175—T. Ca- nutus. Gmel. i. 679. Lath. Ind. Orn. 11.738. Faun. Suec.65.—Knot. Lath. Syn. v. 187. Br. Zool. ii. 76. Arct. Zool. i. 473. Mont. Dict. & Supp.

BIRDS OF ONE YEAR. T. Calidris. Gmel.i. 681. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 732: —Dusky Sandpiper. Lath. Syn. v. 174. Mont. App.—T. Nevia. Gmel. i. 681. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 732.—Freckled Sandpiper. Arct. Zool. ii. 480. Lath. Syn. v. 174.—T. Australis. Gmel. 1. 679. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 737.—Southern Sandpiper, Lath. Syn. v. 187. & Supp. 249.—Aberdeen Sandpiper. Br. Zool. 11. 89.

Killed at Hare Island in June. It is probably a rare species in Greenland, being unknown to Fabricius. Its various stages of plumage have been correctly described by Montagu in his Ap- pendix, article “ Dusky Sandpiper,” and by 'Temminck in his Ma- nuel: they had been previously involved in much obscurity, and had given rise to the variety of synonyms which are referred to. In its winter state it is the 7’. Canutus, or Knot: in its progress to the summer state it becomes first the 7. Grisea, or Grizzled, then the T. Cinerea or Ash-coloured Sandpiper: the old birds in summer are the 7. Islandica and T. Ferruginea, and Red Sandpiper: the birds of the first year, not attaining the high colour of the old ones, have been described variously ; as the 7’. Calidris or Dusky, T. Nevia or Freckled, T. Australis or Southern, and the Aberdeen Sandpiper.

322 9. TRINGA

534 Capt. Sawtnn’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c.

9g. Trinca AxLPIna. Duniin.

T. Variabilis. Temm. 395.

SuMMER. T. Alpina. Gmel. i. 676. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 756. Briin. no. 175. Mull. no. 197. Faun. Suec. 64. Fabr. 111.—Dunlin. Lath. Syn.y. 185. & Supp. 249. Arct. Zool. ii. 476. Mont. Dict. Supp. & App. Br. Zool. ii. 92.—Red- backed Sandpiper. Wil. Am. Orn. vii. 25.

Winter. TT. Cinclus. Gmel.i. 680. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 735 —Purre. Arct. Zool.ii. 475. Lath. Syn. vy. 182. Br. Zool. 294. Wil. Am. Orn. vii. 89. Mont. Dict.

Only a single specimen was killed. The bird is said by Fabri- cius to be very rare in Greenland. The fact of the Tringa Cinclus and Alpina being the same bird may be considered as established, the former in the winter and the latter in the summer plumage: for this discovery Europeans are indebted to our countryman Montagu. Even the acute and accurate Temminck has not ar- rived at clearness on this point in his Manuel, though he concludes the T. Cinclus as referable to the Alpina (his Variabilis) in some state. It must not be overlooked, however, that before Montagu had published his discovery, the close practical observation of Wilson the ornithologist of America, had put him in possession of the fact also.

These birds must certainly migrate from the arctic regions in the winter; since neither Briinnich, Miiller, Fabricius, nor the Fauna Suecica make any mention of the Tringa Cinclus.

10. Cuaraprius Hiaticuta. Ringed Plover.

C. Hiaticula. Gmel. i. 683. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 743. Miill.no.209. Briin. no. 184. Fabr. 112. Faun. Suec. 66.—Ringed Plover. Lath. Syn. vy. 201. Arct. Zool. ii. 485. Br. Zool. ii. 105. Mont. Dict. & Supp. Wil. Am. Orn. 765.

Killed at Hare Island in June: perfectly agreeing with Mon- tagu’s description of British specimens; from whence it may be inferred that the remark made by Pennant of the black collar be-

coming

Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 535

coming fainter in North America, from the effect of climate, is not correct. Montagu mentions that he has seen several of these birds which had been killed in England, in which the collar was extinct.

11. Pratarorpus Hyrersoreus. Red Phalarope.

P. Hyperboreus. Temm. 457. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 775.—Tringa Hyperborea. Gmel. i. 675. Mill. no. 196.—Tringa Lobata. Fabr.109. Faun. Suec.64.—Red Phalarope. Lath. Syn. v. 270 & 271. Br. Zool. ii. 125. Arct. Zool. ii. 494. Mont. Dict. Supp. & App. Wil. Am. Orn. ix. 75. i

IMMATURE. Phalaropus Fuscus. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 776.—Tringa Fusca. Gmel. 1. 675.—Tringa Lobata. Briin. no. 171.—Brown Phalarope. Lath. Syn. v. 274. Arct. Zool. ii. 495.

A small flock of these birds were met with on the west coast of Greenland, in latitude 71°, in June. A considerable variation takes place in the ferruginous colouring of the sides of the neck, in some instances the colour meets at the breast, and in others it does not; it has been considered that this difference is characteristic of the sex, but I am inclined to think that such opinion is errone- ous. Some authors have supposed the Tringa Fulicaria of Linneus’s Systema Nature and of Briinnich to be the female of this species, and have consequently described it as differing extremely : but I have had no hesitation in placing the Tringa Fulicaria as a synonym of the true 7ringa Lobata (not the T. Lobata of Fabricius, which is the present bird). The Phalaropus Fuscus with its syno- nyms is considered as the immature bird, on the authority of Temminck and the Fauna Suecica; but great confusion has been made in the synonyms referred to by other writers. Iam not ac- quainted with the winter plumage of this species; but think it probable that the ferruginous tints are peculiar to the summer months, as the specimens killed in June were very irregularly and. uncertainly marked.

12. Pira-

536 Capt. San1ne’s Memoir of the Birds of Greenland, &c.

12. PuaLanopPus Pratyryncuos. Flat-billed Phalarope.

Phalaropus Platyrynchos. Temm. 459.

SuMMER. Tringa Fulicaria. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. xii. vol.i.249. Briin. no. 172. Fabr.111. Mill. no. 196.—Tringa Hyperborea, var. 8. Gmel.1.676.—Red Pha- larope female. Lath. Syn. v. 271.

WuntTrER. Phalaropus Lobatus. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 776.—Tringa Lobata. Gmel. i. 674. Mill. no. 195.—Grey Phalarope. Br. Zool. 1.123. Lath. Syn. v. 272. Arct. Zool. ii. 494. Mont. Dict-—Grey Phalarope. Wil. Am. Orn. ix. 72.

In CHANGE. Phalaropus Glacialis. Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 776.—Tringa Glacia- lis. Gmel.i. 675.—Plain Phalarope. Lath. Syn. v. 273. Arct. Zool. 11. 495.—Grey Phalarope. Mont. App.

YounG. Tringa Lobata, var. 8. Gwmel. i. 674.

However unwilling I feel to admit alterations in names, I am induced to do so in the present instance, and to adopt ‘T’em- minck’s specific appellation, both as appropriate, and distinct from the confusion in which the various other synonyms which are referred to are involved. ‘The specimen from which the ac- count is taken was killed on the 10th of June, out of a flock of

_ four, on the west coast of Greenland, in latitude 68°. They were swimming in the sea, amongst icebergs three or four miles from the shore. From the considerable difference between the summer and winter plumage of this bird, it is not surprising that so many mistakes have been made. My specimen, which was a male, agrees with Temminck’s description of the fall-plumaged bird in sum- mer, except that the whole under parts have a considerable quantity of white mixed with the brick red, the white being rather predominant. Before I had an opportunity of consulting the Manuel d Ornithologie, which confirmed my opinion, I had arrived at the conclusion that the Fringa Fulicaria of Briinnich was this bird: his accurate description of the bill left no doubt in my mind, notwithstanding the difference in the plumage, the consequence of season. Fabricius enumerates the Tringa Fulicaria

in

Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 537

in his Fauna Groelandica ; but the bird itself does not appear to have fallen under his notice: he was aware, however, that it could not be referred to his Tringa Lobata. This species is only known to British naturalists in its winter state.

1S, Apea, Anis.)., LittleAwk.

A. Alle. Gmel.i. 554. Lath. Ind. Orn. 1.795. Briin. no. 106. Fabr. 84. Faun. Suec. 50. Mull. no. 142.—Little Auk. Lath. Syn. v. 327. Arect. Zool. i. 512. Mont. Dict. § Supp. Br. Zool. ii. 158. Wil. Am. Orn. ix. 94.—Uria Alle. Temm. 611.

This species was abundant in Baffin’s Bay and Davis’s Straits ; and in latitude 76° was so numerous in the channels of water separating fields of ice, that many hundreds were killed daily, and the ship’s company supplied with them. ‘The whole of the birds in the breeding season (the sexes being alike) had the under part of the neck an uniform sooty black, terminating abruptly and in an even line against the white of the belly; the young birds, which we saw in all stages from the egg, as soon as they were feathered were marked exactly as the mature birds: but in the third week of September, when we were on our passage down the American coast, every specimen, whether old or young, was observed to be in change; and in the course of a few days the en- tire feathers of the throat and cheeks and of the under part of the neck had become white; this latter state has been erroneously considered by some authors as that of the immature bird. It has been correctly described however by Fabricius as the winter plumage. Montagu arrived at the same conclusion in his Sup- plement. We saw neither of the varieties which Fabricius remarks that he had heard of; namely, a red-breasted variety, and one

wholly white.

14. Uria

538 Capt.Sasine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c.

14 Urra Briinnicuit. Briinnich’s Guillemot. Unia Troille. Briin. no. 109.

Until the last autumn this bird was known to naturalists on the authority alone of Briinnich ; who, in his Ornithologia Boreals hav- ing described the species at present denominated the Ura Troile, under the specific name of Lomvia, proceeds to notice the exist- ence of a second species much resembling it, and which he names the Uria Troile: this second species is the present bird. Linneus originally called the first bird Alca Lomvia in his Systema Nature, edit. 10. (1758) vol. i. 130; but in the second edition of his Fauna Suecica (1761), he named it Trotle. Briinnich in 1764 took up the specific appellation of Lomvia from the Systema Nature, adding the description he found given of it in the Fauna Suecica under the name of Troile, and applied Troile to bis new bird, referring, how- ever, to the Fauna Suecica probably as authority for the name. From this confusion I apprehend it has arisen that both these birds have not since Briinnich published his work been noticed by ge- neral authors as distinct species. Dr. Leach on examining this bird ascertained it to be a distinct species ; and not being aware that it had been previously distinguished and described by Briinnich, ex- hibited it at the Linnean Society as a new species, under the name of Uria Francsii in compliment to Mr. Frederick Franks, whom he then supposed to have been the person by whom it had been first killed. I have already had occasion, when speaking of the Pha- laropus Platyrynchos, to remark the accuracy in observation of Briinnich. It is but justice to attach his name to a species of which his claim to priority of knowledge and of communication is unquestionable. Latham (Synopsis vi. 330) notices this bird of Briinnich’s, but considers it a variety of the Foolish Guillemot.

The Uria Briinnichii was found in abundance in Davis’s Straits,

and

Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 539

and occasionally in Baffin’s Bay. A specimen killed on the 10th of June had the feathers of the throat mottled with white; from whence I infer that it undergoes the same changes from season as the Uria Troile. A matured specimen was sent by me to my brother, and reached England towards the close of the summer ; several were subsequently brought home by the expedition which visited Spitzbergen, as well as by that which went to Baffin’s Bay.

It is extraordinary that a species so abundant in the Greenland seas should be unnoticed by Fabricius; it must have escaped his observation altogether, as he has not even mentioned the Urza Troile, for which it might on a slight view be mistaken. Length 17 inches—extent 2 feet—weight 2lb. 60z.; inside of the throat yellow, irides dark; throat and neck sooty brown; head black ; hind head, hind neck, back and wings, dark sooty brown; the wings being lightest, and the secondaries tipt white; the feathers of the head and neck have a peculiar smoothness and softness ; from the eye to the hind head is a line occasioned by a division of the feathers; belly and all beneath pure white, running up to a point in the neck; the feathers are very thick, and on being removed a dark down appears between them and the skin; legs marbled, brown and yellowish; claws black; no difference in plumage between the sexes. With the exception of the colour of the dark plumage, this description might be a, lied to the Foolish Guillemot ; but the specific distinction is well pointed out by Briinnich in the following words: ‘ Lomviz in omnibus simil- lima, excepto rostro latiori et breviori, cujus margines etiam in exsiccatis exuviis flavescunt.” The yellow margin extends from the corner of the mouth, along the edge of the upper mandible, to the point to which the feathers project on the bill: it is rather horn-coloured than yellow. Briinnich mentions three other birds,

VOL. XII. Aa Nos.

540 Capt. Saninz’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c.

Nos. 110, 111 and 112, which he calls Svarbag, Ringvia and Alga; the two former Iceland and the latter Danish birds: he is undetermined whether these be distinct species, or the present in different states of plumage: I am inclined to consider the latter supposition as the correct one.

It will be necessary to make some alteration in the specific cha- racter of Uria Troile, as given in Gmelin and Latham, to distin- guish it from Uria Briinnichii. It is therefore proposed to de- scribe the two species as follows:

U. Troile. U.corpore fusco, pectore abdomineque niveo, remi- gibus secundariis apice albis, rostro longitudine capitis : mandibula superiore quadruplo longiore quam lata.

U. Briinnichii. U.corpore fuliginoso, pectore abdomineque ni- veo, remigibus secundariis apice albis, rostro capite breviore : mandibula superiore triplo longiore quam lata.

15. Urta Gryttr. Black Guillemot.

U. Grylle. Temm. 608. Fabr, 92.—Black Guillemot. Br. Zool. 11. 163. Mont. Dict. & Supp. Lath. Syn. vi. 332. & Supp. 265. Mature WINTER. U. Grylloides. Briin. no. 114.—U. Balthica. Brisn. nos. 115 & 116. Mature SUMMER. U.Grylle. Briin. no.113. Lath. Ind. Orn. 1.797.—Co- lymbus Grylle. Gmel. 584. Faun. Suec. 52.—Colymbus Gryllus. Mull. no. 151.— Black Guillemot. Arct. Zool. 1. 516.

The states of plumage of this bird are clearly described from the extensive and accurate observation of Fabricius. The young, when just feathered, are spotted black and white beneath, but otherwise resemble the parents. On the approach of winter the whole become varied with black and white; the feathers of the back margined with white; the head, throat and breast, white lightly spotted with black, the wings continuing black, and the

speculum

Capt. Sasine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 541

speculum white. In this state it has been described by Briinnich as the Uria Balthica, No. 115. In mature winter plumage the whole bird is more or less speckled, and the upper feathers of the wing spot become tipt with black, giving it a mottled appearance. It is then the Uria Balthica, No. 116, of Briinnich. A male speci- men, killed in November at Shetland, having the wing spot mot- tled, shows that this circumstance is not peculiar to the females, as has been supposed. In the spring the plumage gradually re- assumes the black. A male killed in Davis’s Straits early in June, had the whole head and neck mottled with black and white, equally distributed ; the plumage beneath and the back being black with a few white feathers dispersed ; the lower part of the abdomen gray as in the neck; the speculum still mottled, but with the white predominating. This bird was killed on our first arrival in the Greenland seas ; and it is presumed that the change to full summer plumage was proceeding very rapidly, as we did not afterwards see a mottled bird. ‘The legs of the November and June specimens were red, though not so bright as in sum- mer. The breeding plumage is too well known to need descrip- tion.

We did not see a variety, unless a specimen killed in September having the primaries rusty brown instead of black may be con- sidered such: the varieties which are noticed by Gmelin, and also by Latham in the Index Ornithologicus and in the Synopsis, and which are supposed to be found in different places, are referable to the changes of plumage which this bird undergoes during the

winter.

4a 16. Coz

542 Capt.Sas1ne’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, &c.

16. CotymBus SEPTENTRIONALIS. Red-throated Diver. C. Septentrionalis. Fabr. 95. Temm. 602.

MATURE. C.Septentrionalis. Gmel.i.586. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 801. Mult. no. 153.—C. Lumme. Briin. no. 132.—Red-throated Diver. Lath. Syn. vi. 344. Arct. Zool. ii. 520. Br. Zool. ii, 169. Mont. Dict. Supp. & App.

BIRDS OF THE FIRST YEAR. C.Stellatus. Gmel.i.587. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 800. Briin. no. 130. Mill. no. 159.—Speckled Diver. Lath, Syn. vi. 341. Br. Zool. 1. 168. Arct. Zool. ii. 519. Mont. Dict. & Supp.

BIRDS OF THE SECOND YEAR. C. Striatus. Gmel. i. 586. Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 802.—C. Borealis. Brin. no, 131. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 801.—Striped Di- ver. Arct. Zool. i. 519. Lath, Syn. vi. 345.

Killed June 50, on the west coast of Greenland, in Jat. 71°. The rich chesnut marking on the throat is conical in shape, having the apex, which is sharply pointed, at the throat, and the base resting on the white of the breast; the back of the specimen is slightly sprinkled with white spots, showing that it is a bird of the third or fourth year. Following Temminck, the Colymbus Stellatus and Striatus, with their synonyms, are here introduced as the imma- ture birds of the present species: Fabricius was aware of the change of plumage, and has described the mature bird well; but no author before Temminck appears to have supposed that the Striped and Speckled Divers were referable to this species.

17. StrerNA Hirunvpo. Common Tern.

S. Hirundo. Gmel.i.606. Lath. Ind. Orn.i.807. Fabr.105. Miull.no.170. Faun. Suec. 55. Temm. 481.—S. Paradisea. Briin. no. 152.—Great Tern. Wil. Am. Orn. vii. 76.—Common Tern. Br. Zool. 11. 196. Mont. Dict. & Supp.

ImmMatuRE. S. Hirundo. Briin. no. 151.—Common Tern. Lath. Syn. vi. 361. Great Tern. Arct. Zool. ii. 524.

Abundant on the coast of Greenland. In the accounts of the authors who have been cited, a difference is observable in the de- scription of the colour of the forehead of this species: by some it is represented as white, and by others as black: the specimens

which

Capt. Sanrne’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 543

which were obtained, and which were very numerous, were all of the latter plumage, which is certainly that of the perfect adult bird. The white feathers on the forehead are found only on young birds of the first year considerably advanced towards maturity. In astill younger state it is supposed to be the S. obscura or Brown Tern of Gmelin and Latham, and perhaps also the S. nigra of the Fauna Suecica, Miller and Briinnich. There is a remarkable dif- ference between the Greenland common Terns and those of the European coasts, in their bills and legs ; the bills of the Greenland birds are one-third shorter than the European ones, and the tarsi of the former are only half the length of the latter.

18. Larus Marinus. Great Black-backed Gull. L. Marinus. Fabr. 102. Temm. 490. Maroure. L. Marinus. Gmel.i.598. Lath. Ind. Orn.ii.813. Briin. no, 145. Faun. Suec. 55. Miill. no. 165.—Black-backed Gull. Lath. Syn. vi. 371. Br. Zool. 1.172. Arct. Zool. ii. 527.—Great Black-backed Gull. Mont. Dict. & App. IMMATURE. L. Nevius. Gmel. i. 598.—Wagel. Lath. Syn. vi. 375. Br. Zool. ii. 182. Arct. Zool. ii. 528.

The largest of the known Gulls. This bird was once, and once only, seen from the ships, when they were high up in Baflin’s Bay, but at a distance too great to obtain a specimen. It was known to Fabricius both in its mature and immature plumage; but he was probably mistaken in considering the L. varius of Briinnich as a synonym of the young bird: that from its size is probably an immature Herring Gull. The L. marinus is too well known to need a particular description.

19. Larus Guavucus. Glaucous Gull.

L. Glaucus. Gmel. i. 600. Fabr. 100. Briin. no. 148. Mull. no. 169. Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 814.—Glaucous Gull. Lath. Syn. vi. 374. Arct. Zool. ii. 532. & Supp. 70.

Notwithstanding the confusion in which the larger species of Gulls

544 Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c.

Gulls are involved, there appears no doubt of the application of all the above references to the species now under description. The L. glaucus of Temminck is not quoted, because, as will be here- after shown, it is a different species.

None but mature birds in the perfect summer state were killed during the voyage, but these were very common throughout Da- vis’s Straits and Baflin’s Bay. I am fortunately able to make the history of its plumage complete from specimens in my brother’s collection of British birds; and I am happy thus incidentally to record it for the first time as an addition to British ornithology.

In immature plumage it is mottled throughout with an uniform light-brown and white, being distinguished from the young of other well-described species by being without the darker marks on the wings and tail: during the first year the bill has the upper mandible less arched, the angular projection of the lower mandi- ble not so defined, and the extremities of both lead-coloured. In winter the mature bird has the head and neck mottled with brown, as is usual with all the white-headed Gulls. In the perfect sum- mer state, the whole plumage is white excepting the back, scapu- lars, and wing-coverts, which are a very light ash-colour; the pri- mary quill-feathers are still lighter, the ends and under part being pure white ; there is no black whatsoever on any part of the plu- mage: hence the bird from Hudson’s Bay, described in Latham’s Synopsis at the page referred to above, with six of the primary quill-feathers black at the ends, must have been another species.

When arrived at maturity the bill is three inches in length, of a lightish horn-colour, the angular projection of the lower man- dible being bright red; orbits naked, straw-coloured and very fierce ; legs and feet a livid flesh-colour. In size it is somewhat inferior to the L. marinus ; the bill, tarsus, and body of the latter being decidedly greater. Length of a male specimen twenty-nine

inches

Capt. Saninn’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, &c. 545

inches and a half. Extent sixty-three inches. Weight 41b. 8 oz. Length of the tarsus two inches seven-eighths: the females ave- raged rather less. ‘Temminck (Manuel, p. 49Q, note) appears to have seen an immature specimen of this bird, to which he was disposed to give the name of L. giganteus : this name would not be a correct one, because it is a smaller bird than the L. marinus. Temminck identifies his specimen with the L. Ictyetos of Pallas, but that bird is a black-headed Gull.

The Larus glaucus is unquestionably the Burgomaster Gull of the Dutch, and preys on smaller birds as well as on fish. One spe- cimen which was killed disgorged a little Auk when it was struck,. and proved on dissection to have a second in its stomach.

Iam indebted to Mr. James Ross, a midshipman of the Isa- bella, (one of the Discovery ships,) for a singular specimen of a Gull which, though differing in several points, I conceive must be- placed under this species: it was shot on the 6th of June near the middle of Davis’s Straits. Its description is as follows:

Length twenty-six inches; extent fifty-eight inches; a male: bird ; plumage wholly white, the feathers of the hind head, neck, back and wings being occasionally tinged witha very faint brown- ish hue; the legs and feet flesh-coloured ; length of the tarsus two inches and a half; irides deep brown; the length of the bill from the corner of the mouth two inches and a half, being full half an inch shorter than in the usual specimens of the Larus glaucus; the bill is a yellowish horn-colour, the ends of both. mandibles being a lead-colour. From the colour of the bill and the faint spots on the feathers, this bird was evidently immature 3. and it may reasonably be presumed that its full plumage would have been entirely white. In this, and in its smaller size, it differs strongly from the Glaucous Gull; both of these circumstances, I

conjecture,

546 Capt. Santne’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, &c.

conjecture, may have been caused by sickness or by scanty supply

of food. 20. Larus Arcentatus. Silvery Gull.

The bird now under consideration does not appear to have been described in any of the books which are referred to in this memoir. It is necessary therefore to explain why the name of argentatus or silvery, which has been used before, has been at- tached to it. A Larus argentatus was introduced by Briinnich, who was followed by Gmelin; but the bird to which the name was applied is evidently the Larus fuscus or Herring Gull of La- tham, in winter plumage: as is also the Silvery Gull of the Arctic Zoology and of Latham’s Synopsis. In this opinion 'Temminck concurs, as is shown by his quotations in his Manuel under the head of Larus glaucus. Latham in the Index Ornithologicus takes up the Larus argentatus of Briinnich, but considers it erroneously as an aged bird of the Larus marinus or Great Black-backed Gull. Montagu finding the term argentatus at liberty, applied it in his Dictionary to his Less Black-backed Gull; but it will be seen by reference to the Manuel of Temminck that the Less Black-backed Gull is the Larus fuscus of Linneus and Gmelin.

I apprehend that the reason why the bird under consideration has not been hitherto distinctly described is to be found in its general resemblance to the Larus glaucus: it will be therefore best distinguished by a comparative description. In the general character of the plumage they are alike, differing from the other large species of this genus in the entire absence of black in the primary quill-feathers ; the shade of the ash-colour of the back, scapulars, and coverts, varies in different specimens from almost the lightest perceptible tint to a darker than the darkest Larus glaucus that was killed on the voyage; the principal distinction

between

Capt. Sastne’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c. 547

between the two species is in the difference of size; the males of this species average twenty-four inches in length, and the fe- males rather less: extent four feet five to four feet six inches: the legs and bill of both are alike, except in size: length of the tarsus two inches and a half; the wings of the argentatus are rather longer in proportion than those of the glaucus.

These birds were abundant in Davis’s Straits and Baffin’s Bay, but were only seen in mature summer plumage: from analogy it may be expected that the immature birds will resemble those of the Glaucous Gull.

I should have been disposed to have considered this bird as a new and undescribed species; but in a personal communication with Mr. Temminck, whose extensive skill and judgement in or- nithology are only equalled by the liberality and kindness with which he communicates his knowledge, I have learned that he considers the bird of Greenland to be specifically the same with the Herring Gull of the more southern shores of Europe; but that from the effect of climate the black markings of the primary quill-feathers, which have been hitherto considered an essential characteristic of the species, are changed to white in the arctic countries. The mature summer birds of Greenland (in which state only I have seen them) certainly strongly resemble our Her- ring Gull in all other points. In deference therefore to such high authority, I add the synonyms of the authors I quote belonging to that bird, as it is found in temperate climates.

L. Fuscus. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 815. Mill. no. 164. Faun. Suec. 54.—L. Glaucus. Temm.493.—Herring Gull. Lath. Syn.vi.372. Br. Zool. ii. 181. Mont. Dict.& Supp. MATURE WINTER. L. Argentatus. Gmel. i. 600. Brin. no. 149.—Silvery Gull. Lath. Syn. vi. 375. Arct. Zool. ii. 533. MATURE SUMMER. L. Fuscus. Gmel.i. 599. Brun.no. 142.—Herring Gull. Arct. Zool. i. 527. IMMATURE. L. Varius. Driin. no. 150.—Wagel. Arct. Zool. Supp. 70. VOL. XII. AB Before

548 Capt. Sanine’s Memoir on the Birds of Greenland, §c.

Before I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. 'Temminck, he had designed to give the specific name of argentatus to the Eu- ropean bird; it will therefore remain as I have placed it at the head of this species: the name of glaucus, which in his Manuel was given to the Herring Gull, will be removed by him to the true Glaucous Gull. It is singular that Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, under the head of Herring Gull, states that bird to be common in Greenland throughout the year; though no other writer, as far as my observation has extended, mentions the cir- cumstance, and we did not observe a single one with black pri- mary quill-feathers during our voyage in the Straits.

21. Larus Expurneus. Ivory Gull.

L. Eburneus. Gmel. i. 596. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 816. Temm. 498.—Ivory Gull. Lath. Syn. vi. 377. Arct. Zool. il. 529. & Supp. 70.—L. Candidus. Fabr. 108. Miill. p. vii.

Abundant in Baffin’s Bay. Authors describe the length of this bird as sixteen or seventeen inches; the matured specimens obtained, averaged twenty inches; but an immature one measured an inch less. Weight about twenty ounces. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the delicate snow-white plumage of this species in its maturity: I apprehend that this takes place at the end of the second year; on the 24th of August the young birds were ob- served in flight, much mottled with brown