354 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



BuffoiV6 Skua. 



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Buffon's Skua {^Ster cor arms Buffo7ii^ Boie) is a rather rare 

 nomadic autumn and spring migrant to the British Islands, 

 and inhabits the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions. 

 The adult has the upper plumage mostly brownish-grey; 

 crown and nape, blackish; throat, white, tinged with yellow, 

 the latter colour extending to the sides of the neck and 

 across the lower ear-coverts to the nape ; primaries, dark 

 brown; central rectrices (much elongated, narrow, and 

 pointed), blackish; under parts, mostly white; flanks and 

 under tail-coverts, brownish-grey; irides, brown; legs, 

 yellowish-grey; feet, black; bill, deep horn colour. Length, 

 from tip of bill to end of longest tail-feathers, about twenty- 

 three inches. 



