684 LARTD^. 



birds of this species, compared with old ones of the Arctic 

 Skua, have the head darker in colour, while the back is 

 lighter. An unfailing distinction at all ages is to be found 

 in the colour of the shafts of the primaries ; in the Long- 

 tailed Skua only the two outer ones on each side are white, 

 and the others are dusky : in the Arctic Skua all the shafts 

 are white. 



The bird of the year is of a nearly uniform sooty-brown, 

 lighter on the underparts, slightly striated on the flanks and 

 tail-coverts. Some examples are darker than others, but no 

 variation corresponding to that observed in the Arctic Skua 

 is known in this species. 



The late Mr. Gould states (B. of Gt. Brit, v.) that ho 

 has some reason to believe that after this species has done 

 breeding it is rayed with brown and white after the manner 

 of, but more conspicuously than in, the immature state ; and 

 he mentions a Cornish-killed example in the collection of 

 Mr. Bond as bearing out these remarks. This specimen, 

 which was shot at Mevagissey, has been kindly presented by 

 Mr. Bond to the Editor, who has no doubt whatever that it 

 is a nearly adult bird in the last stage before assuming its 

 full plumage. Examples in this state are very rare in col- 

 lections : the Editor has only seen the above, and one from 

 the Kuril Islands, shot in the summer preceding its moult 

 into fully adult plumage. 



A nestling in half-down, obtained on Novaya Zeml3'a by 

 Capt. A. H. Markham, R.N., and presented to the Editor 

 by Major Feilden, is pale smoke-brown on the downy head 

 and underparts, with very dar^' brown feathers tipped with 

 rufous on the back and wings. 



Woodfull & Kiiuler, Printei-s, MilforJ Lane, Strand, London, W.C. 



