90 



657. M leilCOCapillllS, Gld. (Anous leucocapillus and A. melano- 



genys, Gray), White-capped Noddy. 



Crown white ; lores deep black ; cheeks deep plumbeous ; general 

 plumage sooty to bluish-black. 



Total length, 13 in. ; culmen, 2 in. ; wing, 9 in. ; tail, 4'8 to 5 in. ; 

 tarsus, 0'9 in. ; middle toe with claw, 1'4 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2. 



GENUS GYGIS. Tail graduated, outer pair of rectrices shorter than 

 next pair ; bill stout at base, pointed ; plumage pure white ; toes 

 slender. 



658. G. Candida, Gmelin, White Tern. 



Entire plumage pure white ; the second feather from the outside 

 the longest ; shafts usually brownish. 



Total length, 12 to 13 in. ; culmen, 1'8 in. : depth behind nostril, 

 0'4 in. ; wing, 9'5 ; tail, 4 '2 to 4 '5 'in.; tarsus, 0'6 ; middle toe 

 with claw, 1*1 in. 



Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4. 



SUB-FAMILY LARIN^E. 

 Bill with upper mandible longer and bent down over tip of inferior one. 



GENUS LARUS. Nostrils linear or linear-ovate ; tail square. 



659. L. novH'-llolIaildiir, Steph. (includes L. (Xema) gouldi, Bparte., 



and L. (Xema) longirostris, Masters; Bruchigavia janiesoni, Bparte.), 

 Silver Gull. 



Head, neck, tail, and under coverts white ; bill red ; inner web of 

 first quill mostly black ; wing, 12 in. j third quill with a white 

 mirror in full adult. 



Young. Bill and feet sombre ; wing coverts freckled. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9. 



GENUS GABIANUS. Nostrils very small, ovate ; tail square. 



660. G. pacificllS, Lath. (Larus pacificus), Pacific Gull. 



Head, neck, tail coverts, and under surface white ; rectrices white 

 basally, at the tips broadly banded with black on all except the 

 outermost pair, which are white iu matured birds and black on the 

 inner webs in average examples ; scapulars slightly tipped with 

 greyish-white ; secondaries with broader white tips and dark lead- 

 coloured upper parts ; primaries blackish, with white tips from the 

 fifth upwards. 



Young. Brown and mottled or brown and maturing white in 

 second year. 



Hab. : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9. 



FAMILY STERCORARIID^. 



Bill with a cere ; sternum with only one notch on each side of posterior 

 margin ; claws large, strong, hooked. 



GENUS MEGALESTRIS. Centre pair of rectrices project 0*5 in. 



661. M. antarctica, Less. (Lestris catarractes, Temm. ; Stercorarius 



antarcticus, Gray), Skua. 



Plumage sooty-brown ; back little streaked ; bases of primaries 

 white. 



Total length, 21 to 24 in. ; culmen, 2 -2 to 2 '5 in., and depth 1 in. ; 

 wing, 15 to 17 in. ; tail, 6 '5 to 7 in. ; tarsus, 2'7 to 3'2 in. ; middle 

 toe with claw, 2-9 to 3 '2 in. 



Hab. : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9. 



