674 



POMATORHINE SKUA. 



minde. On migration it has been obtained as far south as Cape 

 York in AustraHa, \\'alvisch Bay in South Africa (23° S. lat.), and 

 Callao in Peru (12° S.); while it has, of course, been recorded from 

 numerous intermediate localities. 



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

 olive-brown with darker blotches, and measure about 2*45 by 17 in. 

 Like the rest of the group, this Skua plunders the Terns and Gulls, 

 devours ' krang ' or any animal matter cast up by the sea, while it 

 also preys freely on lemmings. 



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

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

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

 twisted vertically ; breast dull white; flanks and abdomen brown. 

 Length 21 in., wing i4'25 in. Younger examples have a brown 

 pectoral band, more or less striated under parts, barred tail-coverts, 

 and central tail-feathers but little elongated. The bird of the year 

 (represented below) is brown, mottled and barred with dull rufous. 

 Melanistic varieties are not uncommon. 



