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Show 208 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE LARINEE. [Feb. 5, Genus R H O D O S T E T H I A , Macgill. The distinguishing characteristic of this genus is the cuneate tail, in which respect the sole representative species is unlike every other. On account of this elongatiou of the central feathers of the tail, some systematists have placed it next to the Stercorariinee; but it should not be inferred from this solitary point of resemblance that the two genera are at all closely related, their representatives being in other respects far apart. It is much to be desired that the sternum of the next specimen obtained should be preserved, as I believe this part of its structure has never been critically examined. 47. RHODOSTETHIA ROSEA, Macgill. Larus roseus, Macgill. Wern. Soc. Trans, v. no. xiii. p. 249 (1824), descr. of sp. from Melville Peninsula ; Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. vol. i. pl. xiv. Larus rossii, Richards. App. Parry's 2nd Voy. p. 359 (1825), Melville Peninsula; J. C. Ross, App. Ross's 2nd Voy., Nat. Hist. p. 36 (1835), Felix Harbour, Boothia; Sw. & Rich. F. Bor.-Am. ii. Birds, p. 427 (1831); J. C. Ross, App. Parry's Narr. p. 195(1828). Rossia rosea (Macgill.), Bp. Comp. List, p. 62 (1838). Rhodostethia rossi, Macgill. Man. Brit. Orn. pt. ii. p. 253 (1842). Rhodostethia rossii, id. Brit. Birds, v. p. 618. Rhodostethia roseus, Bruch, J. f. Orn. 1853, p. 106. Rhodostethia rosea, Saunders, Ibis, 1875, p. 484 (jr.) ; Payer, Austrian Exp. ii. p. 91 (English transl.) ; Dresser, B. of Eur. pt. i. (1877) " Larus collaris," MS., Schreibers, in Mus. Vindob. Hab. Melville Peninsula, 691° N. lat., and Boothia, straggling to Greenland, once to the Faroes, once to Heligoland, and (on very questionable authority) once to England. This last specimen, which I have examined, has every appearance of having been mounted from a skin and not from the flesh. Ross and Parry state that it was seen to tbe north of Spitzbergen in about 82° N . lat.; but they did not obtain specimens, and no subsequent visitors to that district have observed it; more recently Lieut. Payer says that it was obtained about Franz-Josef Land. There can be no doubt of the prior claim of Macgillivray's name for this species; but its imposition, in anticipation of that which Richardson intended to bestow on it, gave rise to a good deal of bad feeling at the time. In 'The Ibis,' 1875, p. 484-487, I gave a description of the immature plumage of this Gull from two specimens in the Mainz Museum, and enumerated the eleven examples known to exist; to these may be added one more in Copenhagen, and one, of which Mr. O. Salvin has recently informed me, in the museum of Vienna: total thirteen specimens. In reply to -inquiries respecting the Vienna example, Hr. von Pelzeln informs me that it formed part of the collection made by Giesecke during his seven years' residence in Greenland, and came |