TERN. 63 



STERNA sp. inc. 



On March 1st, 1904 (67° 30' S., 170° E.), while passing through some very loose pack 

 ice on our way to the north we saw two or three whisps of Tern. It was the only 

 occasion on which we encountered the bird. The day was misty and the birds were all 

 apparently making their way to the north or north-west, evidently in an autumn 

 migration. The crown of the head, forehead and nape were black, the tail and rump 

 were white. There was a white border to the wing and the rest of the upper parts 

 were grey. The bill was black or very dark. They iiew in companies of from three to 

 six birds together and alighted frequently on the icefloes, giving a clear whistling note 

 while on the wing. We saw neither this nor any other Tern farther south, nor were we 

 able to procure a specimen on this occasion. It is possible that the birds we saw were 

 examples of Sterna vittata, but I am more inclined to think they were S. hirundinacea 

 from the extent of white upon the rump, and the distinct white border to the wings. 

 The bird has also been recorded from the South Shetlands and South Orkneys (Sharpe, 

 " Rep. 'Southern Cross' Coll.," p. 165, 1902 ; Eagle Clarke, oj). cit.). 



MEGALESTRIS ANTARCTICA. 



The Antarctic Skua. 



Lestris antarctica. Lesson, "Traite d'Orn." (1831), p. 616. 



Megalestris antarctica, Gould, P.Z.S., l.s.OO, p. 98 ; Sharpe, "Rep. 'Soutliern Cross' Coll.," (1902), p. 172, 

 ibique citata ; Eagle Clarke, Birds of South Orkney Ids., Ibis, Jan., 1906, p. 180. 



Material in the 'Discovery's' Collection. 



No. 147, ad. skin, $ . Nov. 22, 1901. Macquarie Island. 

 No. 148, ad. skin, ^ . 

 No. 149, ad. skin, (J . 

 No. 150, ad. skin, ? , 

 No. 151, ad. skin, ? , 

 No. 152, ad. skin, 9 , 

 Colouring of the soft parts : — 



Bin, wholly black. 



Iris, very dark brown. 



Legs, toes, webs and claws, black. 

 Also a collection of eggs taken on Nov. 22, 1901. Macquarie Island. 



Occasionally, as in a specimen seen in the Auckland Islands in March, 1904, the 

 legs of this Skua are piebald, black and white, as I have mentioned is so often the case 

 in 3fegalesttHs maccormicki (see p. 68). 



There is no possibility of confusing this Skua with the more southern form, 

 Megalestris maccormicki, which is confined to the ice. M. antarctica is very consider- 

 ably larger, and darker, although there is a tendency to variation as in M. maccormicki 

 within certain limits. 



K 2 



