RARER BRITISH BIRDS, 



53 



POMARINE SKUA. 



Lestris Striatus. BRISSON. 



OF late years, this Gull has borne the specific name of Poma- 

 rinus, given to it by Teraminck, in preference to that of Striatus, 

 given to it by Brisson, who, being the older author, is entitled, 

 according to the rule we have endeavoured to follow in this little 

 work, to have his trivial name continued. We have, therefore, 

 placed it at the head of this account. 



The bird before us is the Arctic bird supposed to be the female 

 of Edwards, who curiously enough supposes, the Parasitic Gull 

 to be the male ; and concludes his account of it with saying, 

 that they were brought from Hudson's Bay, and, he believes, 

 have never before been figured. The bird, figured by Edwards, 

 appears not to be correctly drawn ; as the two elongated middle 

 tail feathers, so characteristic of the genus, are not elongated ; 

 but, in his description, he says, " The tail hath the middle 

 feathers a little longer than those on the sides." 



