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ORD. III. GEN. III. GULL. 



S P E. IV. SKUA GULL. 



PI. H2. 



Larus catara&es. Lin. Syft.l. p. 126. 

 Le Goeland brun. Brif. Orn. VI. p. 165. 



The fkua gull weighs near three pounds ; is two feet in length, and near 

 five in breadth. The bill is two inches long, black, and much curved at the 

 end ; the upper mandible covered more than half way with a cere, at the end 

 of which the noftrils are placed : the head, neck, wings, and back, are brownifh 

 black, with ruft-coloured edges to the feathers : the Ihafts of the primaries are 

 white: breaft, belly, and vent, yellow brown : legs, black : talons, ftrong and 

 crooked. 



The female is fomewhat fmaller than the male, and of a footy black colour. 



This bird is the fierceft of the genus, and not only preys upon fifh, but upon 

 the fmaller kinds of water-fowl, poultry, and even young lambs. It breeds in 

 the northern parts of England and Scotland; and in the latter end of the year 

 is fometimes feen up the Thames, and on the fhores of the fea near this river. 

 The egg is delineated in PI. XLVI. Fig. r. 



