CLASSIFICATION BY ORDERS 83 
15 in. Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezealandiae). Greenish 
black, underparts brownish black. Irides crimson. Shorter 
legs and darker colouring than White-headed Stilt. 
15.5 in. Avocet (Recurvirostris novaehollandiae). Very 
rare, bright colouring and conspicuous up-curved bill. 
Sub-order Columbae 
PIGEONS. 
20 in. New Zealand Wood Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaesee- 
landiae). Large size, magnificent colouring, white breast, ete. 
Sub-order Lari 
TERNS 
9 in. Fairy or Little White Tern (Sternula nereis). Not 
common, smallest of all Terns, pale grey above, white below, 
top of head black, tail white. Bill and feet yellow. 
12 in. Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albistriata). Almost 
wholly pearl grey colouring and conspicuous orange bill. 
16 in. Sea Swallow or White-fronted Tern (Sterna striata). 
Common Tern of New Zealand. Upper parts pale ash grey, 
under parts white. Bill black. White line over bill. 
22 in. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia). Uniform dove 
grey back.. Weak mewing note. Large size. Usually found 
im pairs. 
GULLS 
14.5 in. Mackerel Gull (Bruchigavia novaehollandiae). 
Upper parts pale ash grey. Head white, bill red. First and 
second quills black. Large spot of white near tip. 
15 in. Black-billed Gull (Bruchigavia melanorhyncha). 
White with pearl. grey back and wings. Bill black. Not 
to be confounded with young of Mackerel Gull, which have 
deep red bill almost black. 
24.5 in. Southern Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus). 
Largest gull, conspicuous black and white plumage. Young 
brown. In adults bill yellow. 
SKUAS 
20 in. Arctic or Richardson’s Skua (Stercorarius para- 
siticus). Dusky brown, underparts vary from dusky, brown 
to yellowish white. Distinguished by narrow pointed tail 
feathers. .The centre feathers project three inches. 
25 in. Southern Skua or Sea Hawk (Catharacta lonnbergt). 
Dull brown with touches of grey; white spot on bend of 
each wing when seen from below. Underparts brown. 
