530 DR. p. CHALMERS .\UTf:HELL OX LOXGEVITY AND 



Suvimary of Limicolce. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney (loc. cit. p. 40) recoi'ds an Oyster-catclier of 

 30 years, and a Ruff of 10 years. The highest figures of 

 maximum duration on my list are 15 years for a Pacific Curlew 

 and over 14 years for a Black- breasted Peewit, but theie is at 

 present alive in the Gardens a Wattled Lapwing [Lohivanellus 

 lohatus) which we have had for nearly 20 years, and an Oyster- 

 catcher which we have had for 13 years. The average durations 

 on the list are in most cases between 1 and 2 years. In the 

 period in question these birds were kept in an artificially warmed 

 aviary, with or without access to open air, the best figures relating 

 to species usually kept in an aviaiy with open-air cages. The 

 structure of the alimentary canal of these birds is on the same 

 general type — relatively very long and of slender calibre, with in 

 the less specialized forms the caeca and hind-gut relatively more 

 capacious, but seldom conspicuously so. The usual failure with 

 common European birds is noteworthy, and would appear still 

 more clearly if I had not omitted from the figures numerous cases 

 of individuals that lived less than a month at the Gardens. The 

 evidence appears to show that in proportion to their size 

 Limicolous birds have a high potential longevity, but that either 

 their viability is constitutionally low, or the conditions of captivity 

 are unfavoiirable to them. 



Capt. Flower's highest record is a Lapwing still alive after 

 6 years' duration. 



GAYI^. 



StERCORARIID^. ^°-of- .Av. dur. Max. dur. 



Incliv. in months, m months. 



Ster corar kis, vihole germa .• 14 14-6 67 



A', antm^cticus (Antarctic 8kua) 6 18 67 



8. buffoni (Buflbn's ,, ) 1 2 2 



S. crepidatus (Richardson's ,, ) 2 1 1 



S. pomatorhinus (Pomatorhine ,, ) 5 19 47 



Larid^. 



Pha'ethusa magnirostris (Great-billed 12 2 



Tern) 



Gelochelidon anglica (Gull-billed ,, ) 1 10 10 



Sterna, whole geims 12 11*6 74 



/S'. cfm^/aca (Sandwich Tern) 4 2*7 3 



*S'. Jl'aviatilis (Common , , ) 7 16 74 



S. mmuta (Little ,, ) 1 16 16 



Zarws, whole genus 190 42-5 257 



Z. argentatus (Herring Gull) 34 27*8 99 



L. atricilla {l^sMghmg ,, ) 6 26 50 



L. hrunneiceplialus (Brown-headed 1 55 55 



Gull) 



L. cachinnans (Yellow-legged Herring 11 77 230 



Gull) 



