THE SKUA-GULLS. 5387 
Famiry LARIDZ. Tue Gutts. 
Bill generally shorter than the head, straight at the base, and more or less curved 
at the end; nostrils linear; head ovate; neck short; body rather full and compact; 
wings long and pointed; legs of moderate length, strong, and covered anteriorly 
with transverse scales; feet fully webbed, the hind toe small and elevated. 
Birds of this family frequent the shores of the ocean, but often wander to great 
distances from land; they are incapable of diving, but swim buoyantly. Their food 
consists principally of fish and crustacea; but some of the larger species feed occa- 
sionally on the flesh of cetaceous animals, and devour the young and eggs of some 
species of sea-birds. 
The family of Laride is divisible into four sub-families, with the following char- 
acters: — 
Lrstripin. — Basal half of upper jaw with a horny covering, distinct from the 
tip, and under which the nostrils open considerably beyond the middle of the bill; 
bill abruptly and much decurved at the tip; tail cuneate; body full, stout. 
LArinz. — Covering of the bill continuous; anterior extremity of nostrils gen- 
erally reaching to the middle of the bill; culmen considerably decurved towards the 
tip; body robust; tail generally even. 
Srernin=. — Covering of bill continuous; nostrils opening in the basal third of 
the bill; culmen gently curved to the tip of the lengthened and attenuated bill; 
body rather slender; wing lengthened; tail usually deeply forked. 
RHYNCHOPINE. — Bill excessively compressed, like the blade of a knife; lower 
jaw much longer than the upper; the point obtuse; body slender; tail forked. 
Sub-Family Lestripinz.— The Skua-Gulls ; the Jegers. 
Bill strong and much curved at the end, the base covered with a membranous 
cere; wings lengthened; tail cuneate, with the two central feathers projecting. 
These hardy birds inhabit the high latitudes of both hemispheres. There are 
four Arctic species found both in Europe and North America. They are piratical in 
their habits, appearing to derive their subsistence mainly from the labors of others. 
They chase and harass various species of Gulls, compelling them to disgorge a por- 
tion of their food, which they dart after, and seize before it reaches the water. 
STERCORARIUS, Brisson. 
Stercorarius, Brisson. Ornithologie (1760). 
Bill rather strong; the culmen straight, and covered at the base with a smooth 
cere, the end curved; nostrils linear, and more open anteriorly; wings pointed; first 
quill longest; tail of moderate’ length; the two middle feathers elongated; tarsi 
strong, and covered with prominent scales; claws sharp and much curved; feet 
fully webbed; hind toe short, and but little elevated. 
