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STEECOEAEIUS ANTAECTICUS. 



(SOUTHERN SKUA.) 



Lestris catarractes^ Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de TUranie, Zool. p. 137 (1824) 

 Lesfns antarcticus^ Less. Traite d'Orn. p. 616 (1831). 

 Stercorarius antarcticus^ Gray, Gen. of B. iii. p. 653 (1845). 

 Cataracta antarctica^ Bonap. C. E. xlii. p. 770 (1856). 

 Megalestris autarcticusy Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 206 (1857). 



$ ad. supr^ sordide cinerascenti-brunnea^ subtus pallidior^ scapularibus et tectricibus alarum paullo cinerascenti- 



albido variis : pileo colloque longitudinaliter pallide brunneo maculatis^ cello postico flavicanti-brunneo 

 terminato : remigibus et rectricibus obscure nigris, versus basin albicantibus : rostro nigricanti-brunneo : 

 pedibus nigris : iride nigra. 



Adult, General colour dull cinereous brown, darker on the upper parts, but relieved by touches of grey and 

 light brown, especially on the upper wing-coverts and scapulars; head and neck largely marked with 

 pale brown j the feathers of the hind neck lanceolate in form, and with their terminal portion yellowish 

 brown; quills and tail-feathers dusky black, white in their basal portion; in the closed wing the white 

 is apparent on the primaries to the extent of an inch, but in the secondaries and tail-feathers it is con- 

 cealed by the upper coverts. Irides and feet black ; bill blackish brown. Total length 25 inches ; 

 wing, from flexure, 17; tail 7; bill, along the ridge 2*25, along the edge of lower mandible 2'5; 

 bare tibia 1 ; tarsus 3 ; middle toe and claw 3'1 ; hind toe and claw '5. 



Museum 



tion was taken. It was collected by Dr. Hector, who sends me the following note respecting it : 

 •' Female bird shot in Woodhen Cove, on the south side of Breaksea Sound. There was only 

 one pair; both were shot, but one skin was destroyed. Several others were seen at sea in com- 

 nanv with the Albatros." 



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