L. parasiticus, Tern. Larus parasiticus, Lin. &c. Parasitical Jager, Parasitical, or Arctic Gull, Prov. Scull, Dung Bird, Boatswain, Long-tailed Labbe, Feaser, Scoutiallen, Dirten-allen, Badock, Skui, Faskidar, &c. Bill of the shape and size of that of the Common. Gull ; the two middle tail feathers much elongated, slen der, and pointed at the extremities, a few warts on the hinder part of the tarsus, which measures one inch seven lines. Length of the mature bird from eighteen to twenty one inches, and alar extent from forty-two to forty-three inches and a half. It inhabits Europe, Asia, and America, and has been found from the 28th degree of north latitude to the icy shores of Spitzbergen, the young sometimes accidentally roaming into Holland, Germany, France, and Switzerland. During their land excursions, these birds seem to live much on worms, insects, &c. and to be par tial to the Helix janthina, which is said to communicate a red tinge to their dung. They are remarked for their rapacity, and they pursue the lesser gulls and the terns, not for their routings, as has been so often asserted, but to make them disgorge what they have lately eaten, which is commonly effected by a stroke on the back. The arctic
gulls are known to breed in the unfrequented heaths of the Hebrides and northern isles, constructing their nest of dried grass. The eggs are generally two, but sometimes, it is alleged, three or four, about two inches in length, much pointed, and of a dirty olive green, u, ith irregular blotches of liver brown, most numerous at the thick end ; but, like the eggs of other water birds, they are liable to vary in colour. These gulls appear in their breeding sta tions about the beginning of May, and retire in the end of August, when they disperse over the ocean. In defence of their nestlings they are remarkably bold and impetu ous, exhibiting movements analogous to those of the lap wing, and often feigning lameness in order to decoy un welcome visitors to a distance.