SHEATH-BILL, 269 



and of a reddifh colour : claws black. In young birds the tu- 

 bercles round the eyes are very fmall, or wholly wanting. 



Thefe inhabit New Zealand, and feveral other parts explored Place and 

 by our late circumnavigators ; and are apt to vary in regard to Manners. 



the colour of their extremities, as well as fize, in the different 

 places in which they have been feen. In thofe from Kerguelen's 

 Land fome had brown legs, with the toes black ; and others the 

 legs white, or a pale blue. In one met with at Staaten Land the 

 legs were black ; and the bill in fome fpecimens of a pale brown. 



Thefe birds haunt the fea fhores in flocks, and feed on Shell 

 Fijh and carrion*. In refpect to their being ufed for food, our 

 voyagers differ greatly : fome of them put it in competition with 

 the Duck-f ; while others tell us that it is worfe than carrion; for it 

 had fuch a horrid offenfive fmell, that they could not venture to 

 tafte the fiefh, and that at a time when they were not eafily dif- 

 gufted J : we may therefore venture to conclude, that thofe who 

 praifed it as a delicacy were at leaft very hungry. 



* Forjl. Voy. i. 518. f Cook's la/l Voy. i. p. 88. % Forjl. Voy. ii. p, 205.*. 



Order" 



