THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The type figured and described is a male, collected ofi New Zealand. 
This bird was one of the earliest known to the adventurous naturalists who 
accompanied Captain Cook, but it was confused with the northern bird. In 
Captain Cook’s Journal, edited by Wharton, 1893, we find the following notes 
regarding this form : — 
(p. 127) Saturday (Sept.) 30th (1769). Saw a dark brown bird as big as a Raven ; it is a 
Sea Fowl, and are seen in great numbers about the Faulkland Islands, as I am told. 
(p. 129) Thursday (Oct.) 5th (1769). Saw one of the same sort of Birds as we saw last 
Saturday. These birds are of a dark brown or Chocolate Colour, with some white feathers 
under their wings, and are as big as Ravens. Mr. Gore says that they are in great plenty 
at Port Egmont in Faulklands Islands, and for that reason calls them Port Egmont Hens. 
Friday 6th. Saw some Port Egmont Hens. 
The next day Cook saw the mainland of Poverty Bay, New Zealand. 
(p. 200) Saturday (Feb.) 24th (1770) (off Timaru). Mr. Banks, in a small boat, shott 2 Port 
Egmont Hens which were in every respect the same sort of Birds as are found in great 
numbers upon the island of Faro ; they are of a very dark brown plumage, with a little 
w^hite about the under side of their wings, and are as large as a Muscovy Duck. These 
were the first that we have seen since we arrived upon the Coast of this Country, but we 
saw of them for some days before we made land. 
(p, 236) Wednesday (April) 18th (1770). Last night we saw a Port Egmont Hen, and this 
morning 2 more . . . these birds are certain signs of the nearness of land. 
The succeeding day Cook was off Cape Howe, Victoria. On the next 
voyage Cook found that these birds were not sure signs of land, noting them 
far from any point. 
It seemed certain that Solander would have noted this bird, and it also 
appeared to me that such an accurate ornithologist would have remarked 
some difference between the New Zealand killed bird and the North Atlantic 
one. I therefore looked up the Solander MSS., and found that he had 
described it under the name of Larus skua. I reproduce the description as 
it seems worthy of attention : — 
Skua Larus fuliginosus, rectricibus remigibusque nigris, basi albis, pedibus atris, unguibus 
aduncis 
Skua-gull. Penn. Zool. fol . — tab. 140, p. 417 
Skua 417 Hoyeri. Clus, exot 369 
Catarractas noster. Will. orn. 265 {angl. p. 348) Baji av. 128 
Habitat in Oceano Australiam alluente. Lat. austr. XLIV : 40 Log. occ. 
CLXXXVIII. (Febr. 23, 1770) 
Caput & Collum testaceo-fuliginosa : pennis apice griseis. 
Dorsum fuliginosum : penis apice testaceis 
Abdomen cinereo-fuliginosum, imaculatum 
Ala' lata', magna', nigra' 
Remiges basi alba', albido primorum extra tectrices purum extensa 
Cauda brevis (circiter sex uncias longa) lata, rotunda, nigra 
Becirices basi alba' dua' intermedia' reliquis paulo longiores 
Rostrum sordida nigrum, crassum, breviusculum 
488 
