690 



POMATORHINE SKUA. 



the Fseroes on both migrations ; it occurs on the inland waters of 

 Europe down to the Mediterranean, and along the west coast of 

 Africa to Walvisch Bay ; and it has been obtained in Japan, Burma, 

 North Australia, California and Peru. 



The 2 eggs, deposited in a mere depression of the moss, are 

 of an olive-brown with darker blotches, Mr. Popham's specimens 

 measuring about 2 '6 by i"8 in. Like other Skuas this species 

 plunders the Terns and Gulls; devouring 'krang' or any animal 

 matter cast up by the sea, and preying freely on lemmings. 



The adult has the front and crown of the head sooty-black ; neck 

 white, with straw-yellow acuminate feathers ; upper parts chiefly 

 umber-brown, the two central tail-feathers projecting 4 in. and being 

 twisted vertically ; breast dull white ; flanks, abdomen and under 

 wing-coverts brown ; bill horn-brown ; tarsi and toes reddish-black. 

 Length 21 in., wing i4"25 in. The yellow on the neck is sometimes 

 assumed before the central tail-feathers are fully developed ; and 

 the flanks and tail-coverts are striated, except in mature birds in 

 autumn. Younger examples have a brown pectoral band, more or 

 less striated under-parts, barred tail-coverts, and central tail-feathers 

 little elongated. The bird of the year (represented below) is brown, 

 mottled and barred with dull rufous. Melanotic varieties are not 

 uncommon in immature birds. 



