^14 



CATARRACTES. SKUA. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum mediocre, validum, 

 cylindricum, compressum, 

 curvatum ; mandibula su- 

 periore basi cera tecta, 

 apice adunc^ ; inferiore 

 subtus angulatL 



Nares in cera, et versus api- 

 cem rostri sitae, 



Cauda pennis intermediis 

 baud elongatis. 



Pedes graciles; tibice parte 

 inferiore nudse. 



Beak moderate, strong, cylin- 

 dric, compressed, curved ; 

 the upper mandible fur- 

 nished with a cere at its 

 base, its tip hooked ;Tthe 

 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 tibi^s naked. 



CATARRACTES. Ray. 

 CATHARACTA. Brun. 

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

 LESTRIS. Illig., Temm. 



ESE 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 



