GA VI ^. 



( 294 ) 



LARID^. 



THE LONG-TAILED, OR BUFFON'S SKUA. 

 Stercorarius parasiticus. 



When the ocean rolls the proudest, 

 Through the foam the sea-bird glides. 



Scott. 



During the storms of the autumn of 1879 great flocks of 

 Skuas visited the coasts of England and Scotland, amongst 

 which were considerable numbers of this species, an example 

 being shot at Eyemouth in November of that year. It was 

 a mature bird, and had the central feathers seven inches 

 longer than the other plumage of the tail.^ 



The Long-tailed Slvua resembles Eichardson's Skua in 

 its general habits, and may be distinguished from the latter 

 by its smaller size and longer central tail feathers. It 

 breeds in Lapland and other northern regions. 



1 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. ix. p. 169. 



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