116 POMEKIKE SKUA. 



Greater and lesser wing coverts, dark purple brown; the 

 primaries, dusky, have the shafts white. The tail, of twelve 

 feathers, is dark purple brown, the shafts of the feathers 

 white, except the extreme ends. The two middle feathers 

 are three inches longer than the others, but of an equal 

 breadth throughout; the tips rounded; under tail coverts, 

 white, dashed with greyish brown. Legs, bluish black; the 

 toes, black, the hind toe very short, and with a strong nail. 



The young of the first year have the bill bluish, the upper 

 mandible rounded, and bent down at the point, which is 

 black; a groove runs along the cere to the base of the bill, 

 and there is also a groove from the base of the lower man- 

 dible for half its length; iris, hazel. Crown, neck on the 

 back, and nape, brown, tinged with grey, the feathers mar- 

 gined with pale brown. The feathers of the breast are 

 white at the base, the remainder mottled with brown and 

 yellowish brown as the bird gets older the white prevails. 

 Back, deep rufous brown, the tips of the feathers yellowish 

 brown, looking like a spot on each side of the shaft. 



The wings, when closed, reach an inch beyond the end 

 of the tail; greater and lesser wing coverts, deep rufous 

 brown. The primaries have their shafts and inner webs at 

 the base white, the outer webs and tips black; the second- 

 aries are tipped with yellowish brown. The tail has part of 

 the shafts and the base of the inner webs white, the rest 

 black; the two middle feathers about three quarters of an 

 inch longer than the others, but of the same breadth 

 throughout, and rounded at the ends; upper and under tail 

 coverts, barred across with pale brown and reddish white. 

 Legs and toes, bluish black; the claws much hooked and 

 black. 



In another stage the bill at the base is greenish brown, 

 the point, which is curved, black; cere, greenish brown; iris, 

 very dark brown. Head on the crown, the neck, and nape, 

 brown, the feathers, margined with lighter brown; chin, 

 throat, and breast, brown, with narrow transverse waves of 

 paler buff-coloured brown. Back, umber brown, with broad 

 margins to the feathers of a lighter shade, broadest on the 

 lower part. Primaries, blackish brown, the shafts and a 

 considerable portion of the inner webs white; tertiaries, 

 umber brown, broadly margined with paler brown. Upper 

 tail coverts, umber brown, each feather broadly margined 

 with a lighter shade, the middle feathers about half an inch 



