BRITISH BIRDS, 
233 
SKUA GULL, 
OR BROWN GULL. 
[Larus catarraBes, Lin . — Le Gotland hrun. Buff.) 
This ftout Gull is two feet in length, and between 
four and five from tip to tip of the extended wings, 
and weighs about three pounds. The bill is dark, 
more than two inches long, ftrong, much hooked, 
and fharp at the tip ; and, what is fingular, it is 
covered to the noftrils with a kind of cere, fome- 
thing like that of the Hawk tribe. The whole up« 
per plumage is of a deep brown, edged with a dull 
rufl: colour : the under parts are of the fame colours, 
but lighter ; and, in fome birds, the head and throat 
are daflied or mixed with afh-grey, and have the 
fecondary quills tipped with white : the tail is white 
at the root, the lhafts are of the fame colour, and the 
VoL. 11. t G g 
