dead vegetation
on the highest parts of the marsh. They lay three eggs of a greenish
gray color marked with dark brown and lilac. Size 1.75 x 1.25.

61. ROSES GULL. _Rhodostethia rosea._

Range.--The Arctic regions, south in winter to Alaska, Greenland,
northern Europe and Asia.

This beautiful bird is the most rare of all the Gulls, being very
difficult to obtain because of its extreme northerly distribution. It is
in form and plumage like Bonaparte Gull, with the exceptions that the
head is white, there being a narrow black collar around the neck, the
tail is wedge shaped, and the whole under parts from the chin to the
tail are rosy in the breeding plumage. The nests and eggs remain still
undiscovered, although Nansen, in August 1896, found a supposed breeding
ground in Franz Josef Land, because of the numbers of the birds, but
found no nests.

62. SABINE'S GULL. _Xema sabinii._

Range.--Arctic regions, breeding from Alaska and Greenland and
northward, and wintering south to New England.

A handsome bird, having the slaty hood bordered behind with a black
ring, the primaries black, white tipped, and the tail slightly forked.
They breed abundantly on the marshes of northern Alaska and Greenland,
nesting the same as others of the species. The two or three eggs are
laid in June. They are greenish brown in color and are marked with dark
brown. Size 1.75 x 1.25. Data.--Hudson Bay, August 1, 1894. Eggs laid on
the ground in the moss; no nest except the hollow in the moss.

[Illustration 051: Rose Gull. Sabine Gull.]
[Illustration: Greenish brown.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 50

63. GULL-BILLED TERN. _Gelochelidon nilotica._

Range.--Found in North America along the Gulf Coast and on the Atlantic
Coast north to Virginia and casually farther.

This is one of the largest of the Terns, is 14 inches long, has a short,
thick, black bill and a short slightly forked tail; the crown is black,
mantle pearly gray, white below. This species is very widely
distributed, being found in Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. They are
known locally as "Marsh Terns" where they breed in immense numbers on
some of the marshes about the Gulf, particularly in Texas. They also
breed on many of the islands along the Coast, rarely making any nest,
but laying the eggs in a hollow in the sand. They nest most abundantly
in the latter part of May, generally laying three eggs. They are of a
yellowish