Order LAEIFOEMES.l 



7/ 



[Family STEECOEAEIIDiE. 



STEECOEAEIUS CEEPIDATUS. 



(EICHARDSON'S SKUA.) 



Stercorarius crepidatus (G-melin), Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 66. 



Mr. A. T. Pycroft sends me the following interesting note from the Bay of Islands : " Skua-gulls 

 are sometimes seen here in the summer. Only a fortnight ago, when I was out fishing at the 

 Eawhiti, I saw three of these birds. As a rule, I have found them following flocks of the 

 Antarctic Tern, when the latter are fishing. The Skua singles out a Tern which has a fish, and 

 frightens it so that the Tern cries out, and, as a rule, drops the fish ; then the Skua, with great 

 quickness, secures the prize before it reaches the water. While this is going on some of the other 

 Terns fly round the assailant screeching, but they do not venture to attack it. Shortly after I 

 came here, when pulling up the Waikare Eiver, I saw a Tern trying to evade the attack of a 

 larger bird of dark plumage ; however, the poor Tern had no chance against its powerful enemy 

 who struck it, causing it to fall into the water. I was surprised to see the assailant settle down in 

 the water and lift up the Tern, flying off with it about 200 yards, when it was dropped. I pulled 

 up, and on my approach the large bird flew away. The Tern was quite helpless when I picked 

 it up, but it recovered later on ; however, it died next morning. I think the bird that struck it 

 was a Skua-gull, but of this I am not certain." Probably this was the larger form, Megalestris 

 antarctica. 



In a later note he states that these birds are plentiful from October and November till April, 

 and that on one occasion he counted as many as six between Opua and Eussell. 



I have recorded several instances of the occurrence of this species in Wellington Harbour. 

 The last specimen that came under my notice (an adult bird) was taken on the Wairarapa 

 Lake, about fifty miles from Wellington. 



Dr. Eamsay, writing of the birds of Australia, states that of this species stragglers are occa- 

 sionally found on the southern coasts. 



Order CHAEADEIIFOEMES] . 



[Family CHAEADEIID.E. 



AEENAEIA INTEEPEES. 



(TUENSTONE.) 



Strepsilas interpres (Linn.), Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p, 14. 



I have nothing to add to my account of this species, except that of late years it appears to have 

 increased considerably both in the North and South Islands. 



