1 68 



Southern Cross. 



other Great Skuas, of wliich four representatives are now recognised. 

 The species known as the ' Bonxie,' of the Sliethiiuls, fref|uenting the 

 North Ath'uitic, is not known south of the coast of Morocco ; but in 

 the Southern Oceiin. from the New Zealand area to Heard, Kerguelen, 

 Marion and Crozet Ishmds, and westward to the Falklands, is found a 

 hirger and darker Skua {Mcrjalcstris antardica), which seems to breed 

 as far south as the Soutli Shethands and Cockburn Island, and I have 

 examined a specimen obtained by the Dundee wlialers. Some six or 

 seven degrees of latitude separate this dark form from McCormick's 

 Skua, which is a much paler bird, almost dirty straw-colour about 



maccobmick's skua. 



{ Hy iiermission of Sir George Neumes, Bart.) 



the head and neck. The fourth species, M. chilc7ms, has tlie under 

 parts of a warm chestnut colour. Further specimens of these Southern 

 Skuas, witii notes on their geograi»hical distribution, are much wanted, 

 but anything approaching the extermination of a colony is to be 

 «h'l»recated." 



This large Skua was observed in large numbers on several 

 occasions by the ' Southern Cross' and a great many were shot by 

 Mr. Hanson at Cape Adare, but only two of the skins thus procured 

 were in tlie collections brought to P:nglaud, and the series consists 

 princii)ally of skins prepared by Mr. Evans after Mr. Hanson's death. 



