674 

 GA VIjP.. 



laridj:. 



LARIDM. 



Stercoearius crepidatus (Gmelin*). 



THE ARCTIC OR RICHARDSON'S SKUA.f 



Lestris Richardsonil. 



Of the species of this geuus which visit this country, the 

 Arctic Skua is the most numerous. Pennant, in his time, 



* Laras crepidatus, Gmelin, Sjst. Nat. i. p. 602 (1788), ex Banks, Hawks- 

 worlh's Voy. ii. p. 15 (1773). 



f The trivial name ' Richardson's Skua ' is certainly distinctive, but as it was 

 originally ajiplied solely to the dark form, it appears preferable to call this species 

 the ' Arctic Skua,' the name previously employed by Pennant, Montagu, Bewick, 

 Fleming, Selby and others. The only drawback is that it has occasionally been 

 conferred on the next species. 



