86 THE BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA 



The Pacific Gull. 



Gaiianus pacificus. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Head, neck and tindei' surface white; mantle and surface of wings 

 black; secondaries with broad white tips; tail coverts white; bill orange. 

 They obtain their adult plumage in the third year, and in the young stage 

 the head and hind neck are brown, mantle and tail coverts paler brown, 

 primaries and under surface brown, bill nearly black. The total length 

 is 25 inches, culmen 2.8, wing 17.5 to 18, tail 8, tarsus 2.9. 



Nest made of grass or other vegetation, and usually built on 

 small islands or outlying reefs among the Mesembryanthemums 

 or the tussock grass. Clutch from two to three eggs, olive-brown 

 marked with dark-brown blotches, those underlying purplish- 

 grey. They measure about 3.01 x 2.01 inch. 



Family StercorariidoR. 

 Bill with a cere ; tip of mandible hooked. Sternum with only 

 one notch on each side behind. Toes with strong, hooked sharp 

 claws. 



Genus Megalestris. — Form robust. Tail short, the central 

 pair of quills projecting about half an inch. 



Genus Stercorarius. — Form more slender. Tail with central 

 pair of quills projecting 3 inches at least. 



The Southern Skua. 



Megalestris antarctica. 



Southern Ocean generally, north to Madagascar and Comoro Islands. 



Upper parts dark brown; under wing-coverts dark brown; bill and 

 tarsi black. Total length 23 to 24 inches, culmen 2.5, and depth 1; wing 

 15.5 to 16.5, tail 6.5 to 7, tarsus 3 to 3.25. 



Nest usually among and lined with grass. Two eggs are 

 laid and are greyish buff to olive-brown ; the markings are brown 

 of various shades, sometimes more numerous at the larger end. 

 The eggs measure about 2.91 x 2.10 inch. 



The Southern Skua is often called Sea Hawk by sailors 

 because of its powerful beak and claws. The claws have a 

 curious appearance, projecting beyond the web which unites the 



