Mr. W. Thompson on the Fauna of Ireland, 7 



Lest. Richardsonii, L. Richardsonii, Stercorarius cepphus, Lestris,lrish 



Swainson. . Jenyns. Leach. specimen, 



in. lin. in. lin. in. lin. in. lin, 



Length, total 22 8 21 19 19 9 



excluding cen- 1 . ]g fi 18 Q 16 lfi Q 



traltail feathers... J 

 of wing 13 6 13 13 12 6 



— of bill above 1 1 1 H 1 2 1 3* 



of bill to rictus . 110 1 H 2 110 



— of tarsus 110 1 9 1 8 1 9 



of middle toe 1 x g i x 8 i 1 7§ 



and nail J * 



Two longest tail feathers very much acuminated, the others in- 

 creasing gradually in length from sides to centre, those next in 

 length to the two central ones exceeding the outer feathers by one 

 inch; breadth of bill at base 6 lines. 



Top of head, back, upper surface of wings and tail blackish brown, 

 varying in some plaoes to blackish ; entire under surface likewise 

 dark- coloured, except the tail feathers which show a little white 

 beneath ; patch from the eye downwards pale straw colour. This 

 colouring is in accordance with that of the L. Richardsonii of Fauna 

 B. A. Mr. Jenyns remarks that the species is subject to consider- 

 able variation of colour in the adult state : — his description of its 

 plumage accords tolerably well with that of S. cepphus. 



I should have set down the Irish Lestris simply as a small indi- 

 vidual of L. Richardsonii, had not its general accordance with S. cep- 

 phus at the same time suggested whether it might not as well be 

 considered this bird, and consequently whether these terms apply to 

 two really distinct species. An examination of specimens would at 

 once decide the question f. 



Anser ferus, Steph. Wild Goose. In the collection of R. Ball, 

 Esq. there is a specimen of this goose purchased by him in Dublin 

 market early in the winter of 1 837, and which was stated to have been 

 shot in this country ; two others of this species were exposed for sale 

 at the same time. Judging from its small size, the specimen is a fe- 

 male : it displays the blackish markings disposed irregularly over 

 the lower part of the breast and the belly, which Temminck consi- 

 ders indicative of very old individuals of both sexes (Man. d'Orm 

 l'Eur. t. 2. p. 819.). These markings have generally been unnoticed 



* Following the curve ; the others may have been measured in a straight 

 line. 



f Since the above was written the 4th part of Temminck's ' Manuel' has 

 been published, and here S. cepphus appears as a synonym of L. parasiticus 

 (p. 502.). The description of S. cepphus would indeed seem about equally 

 applicable to a small L. Richardsonii or a large L. parasiticus. 



