38 WHITE— Further Notes upon the Arctic Sl'ma. 



212. 9 Length 23, 30/6/86— Irides dark brown, eyelash 

 and naked space about the face, black; feet nearly black. 

 247. 9 Length 23, 14/7/86. 

 265. $ Length 23.3, 3/9/86. 



Further Notes upon the Arctic Skua (Stercorarius 



parasiticus). 



P,y S. A. White, M.B.O.U. 



It is again through the kindness of the Messrs. Rymill, 

 that I have been able to procure further specimens of the 

 above birds. This time four specimens were obtained, two of 

 the dark phase, and two of the light. Some interesting notes 

 have been made upon these specimens. It was interesting to 

 find in the stomach contents of these birds, numbers of plague 

 locusts (Ghortoicetds term inif era). Of course it cannot be enter- 

 tained for a moment that the skuas took these upon the land. 

 There had been a strong S. E. wind blowing prior to the tak- 

 ing. of the birds, which might have blown the grasshoppers out 

 into the Gulf, the stomachs also contained great numbers of 

 Cephalopods' beaks, and seeing that one had a partly digested 

 squid in its stomach, it would lead one to suppose that the 

 numerous hard beaks would belong to this species. 



All the specimens were taken in St. Vincent Gulf, on Feb- 

 ruary 13th. 1917. They were as follows. — 



Xo. 1. $ White phase, total length 19-|-;in., total stretch of 

 wings 404 in.; wing full stretch 19 in.; feet deep shiny black; 

 bill, brownish black; stomach contents, small bones like those 

 of garfish, part of squid, two grasshoppers. 



Xo. 2. 9 Dark phase, feathers on xiape, breast, and abdo- 

 men, tipped with white; weight, 1 lb. 2-1 oz. ; legs and feet, deep 

 shiny black; bill, black; total length, 19| inches; total 

 stretch of wings, 45 inches; stretch of wing, 20£ inches: 

 stomach contents, fish flesh, and many small bones like those 

 of garfish, 36 beaks of Cephalopods. 



Xo. 3. $ Light phase, total length 19 inches; total 

 stretch of wings, 42 inches; stretch of wing, 20] inches; feet, 

 deep shiny black; bill brown; stomach contents, few fish 

 scales, and grasshoppers. 



