214 



CATARRACTES* SKUA. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum mediocre, validum, 

 cylindricum, compressura, 

 curvatum ; mandibula su- 

 periore basi cera. tecta, 

 apice adunca ; inferiore 

 subtus angulata. 



Nares in cera, et versus api- 

 ceni rostri sitae. 



Cauda pennis intermediis 

 haud elongatis. 



Pedes graciles; tibia? parte 

 inferiore nudae. 



Beak moderate, strong, cylin- 

 dric, compressed, curved ; 

 the upper mandible fur- 

 nished with a cere at its 

 base, its tip hooked; the 

 under angulated beneath. 



Nostrils placed in the* cere, 

 towards the tip of the beak. 



Tail with its middle feathers 

 not elongated. 



Legs slender ; the lower part 

 of the tibia; naked. 



CATARRACTES. Ray. 

 CATHARACTA. Brun. 

 LARUS. Linn., Gmel., Lath., Briss. 

 LESTRIS. Illig., Temm. 



X HESE birds differ from the Jagers in having: the 

 tail-feathers nearly even, the beak stouter, and the 

 tibiae divested of feathers, longer and more slender, 

 as are also the legs. In manners and disposition they 

 assimilate, but the Skuas are more partial to fish and 



