696 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA, 
and make them disgorge their prey: but we have also seen them 
swimming on the water searching for their own food. Their flight 
is very swift, and sustained by powerful strokes of the wing, 
urging their bodies through the air with great rapidity: their 
rapid evolutions when in chase of the nimble Terns are most 
graceful. Mr. Andersson observes: ‘‘ This bird is not uncommon 
on many parts of the south-west coast of Africa; and I have often 
killed it at Walwich Bay. It frequents the innermost shallows 
and lagoons on the coast, but is not equally abundant throughout 
the year, apparently retiring from that part of the coast during 
the breeding-season. ‘This species rarely fishes for itself, but 
compels the timid Gulls and Terns to disgorge their captures for 
its benefit.” Senor Anchieta has procured a single specimen at 
Mossamedes. 
(A) Throughout, a dull sooty-black, shghtly variegated on the 
back of the neck with brown ; tail slightly pointed. 
(B) Throughout, mottled brown and fulyous, the latter predomi- 
nating on the neck and head; obsolete on the tail, which is much 
pointed. 
(C) Back of head, wings, and tail, deep sooty brown; chin and 
under parts white; breast mottled with brown, forming a collar 
round the neck; vent also mottled with brown; centre tail-feathers 
not fully developed. Length, 16’; wing, 12’; tail, 6’. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pl. 611. 
671. Srercorarivs antarcricus (Less.). Antarctic Skua. 
Stercorarius catarractes, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 366. 
Several specimens of this fine Skua Gull appeared in Table Bay on 
the 29th of April, 1865, chasing the Solan Geese (Sula melanura), 
which flocked in to prey on the vast shoals of fish in the bay. 
Mr. L. C. Layard fired at one a week previous to this. They were 
plainly recognizable at a great distance, owing to the white spot on 
the wing, and their size ; and while the smaller S. erepidatus attacked 
the little Gulls and Terns, they confined their attention to the Solan 
Geese, compelling them to disgorge their hard-earned gains. 
The following is a translation of the description given by the 
editor in his report on the birds collected by the “ Transit of Venus ” 
Expedition, 
Above sooty brown, the dorsal plumes and scapulars washed with 
ope btire eb. o 
