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STERCORARIUS POMATORHINUS.
Pomatorhine Skua.

? Stercorarius striatus, Briss. Orn., tom. vi. p. 152, pl. 13. fie. 2.

Lestris pomarinus, Temm. Man. d’Orn., 1st edition, p. 514. :

Catarractes parasita, var. camschatica, Pall, Zoogr. Ross.-Asi

Cataractes pomarina, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol.
Pomarinus, Selby, Ill. Brit. Orn., vol. ii. D» ole

Lestris striatus, Eyton, Rare Brit. Birds, eos:

spheriuros, Brehm, Handb. der Naturg. Vog. Deutschl., Deeley

Stercorarius pomarinus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. Pp. 653, Stercorarius, sp. 3.

Coprotheres pomarinus, Reich. Syst. Av., tab. 32. figs. 328, 329. 3

Lestris pomatorhinus, Sclater, Ibis, 1862, p. 297.

at., tom. li. p. 312.
Xlll. p. 216, pl. 24.

 

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Tue species of Skua above named, and represented on the opposite Plate, was first clearly distinguished
from others of the group by the late Professor Temminck
edition of his ‘Manuel d’Ornithologie’—a work which, witl
any other of the kind, and which g

, who described it unequivocally in the original
1 all its imperfections, was then far in advance of
ave an enormous impetus to our knowledge of the birds of this quarter
of the globe. Temminck called his new species Lestris pomarinus, the derivation of which appellation
was long a matter of uncertainty. Some naturalists conceived it was intended to refer to the country of
Pomerania; but the truth of the matter remained unsuspected until, in 1860, M. Preyer, in the narrative of
his travels in Iceland, set it at rest by suggesting that Temminck intended to refer to the peculiar lid-like
formation of the nostrils, and coined his name from two well-known Greek terms having that signification.
That distinguished naturalist, however, being better acquainted with birds than with the classics, made a
mistake in the composition of his new word, and it thus became necessary, as Dr. Sclater subsequently
showed, to modify the spelling from pomarinus into pomatorhinus, the form which I accordingly here adopt.

Like all the other species of the genus, the Pomatorhine Skua is an inhabitant of the colder parts of the
world. Its limits northward may be said to extend as far as our geographical knowledge goes. Speaking
of the regions on the other side of the Atlantic, Sir John Richardson says, “It is not uncommon in the
Arctic Seas and northern outlets of Hudson’s Bay, where it subsists on putrid fish and other animal
substances thrown up by the sea, and also on the matters which the Gulls disgorge when pursued by it. It
retires from the north in the winter, and makes its first appearance at Hudson’s Bay in May, coming in
from seaward. The Indians abhor it, considering it to be a companion of the Esquimaux, and to partake of
their evil qualities.”

Captain Holbeell, who was for many years Governor of the Danish possessions in Greenland, states that it
is the commonest species of Skua found in the northern part of that country, which it visits from May to
September, breeding always in society. He adds that it can fish well enough for itself when it Wiss, but
prefers living by plunder, pursuing the Sea-Gulls, and compelling them to drop their booty, which it at
once appropriates.

Dr. von Middendorff, the intrepid traveller who has added so largely to our knowledge of the natural
history of the most northern portions of Asia, says that this bird breeds in especial Se on the barren
grounds or “ ¢undras” adjoining the River Taimyr; but thence to the Boganida ay a single a was
procured. He first saw the bird on the 6th of June, and Z the 7th July ae Gn lat. N. 74°) the first
egos lying on the moor without any nest. ea of le he die nee ae we Ic pe

Mr. Alfred Newton, writing in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for 1861 (p. ), says, “In
June 1855, Mr. Simpson and myself ohsenved oth Berlevaag, a peace east of ee eo ee ee
of this species. On our return a few weeks afterwards with Mr. My olley, Bic a o ae ie oe
that gentleman sought diligently, but unsuccessfully, for neu breeding-places 4 oe : : ao i
to believe that in the years when the Lemmings swarm in the Sue usually a a .
interior of the country; for this, as well as the allied species of Stercorarus, De ue toes ue
; k, that in the full-plumaged Pomatorhine Skua the middle ale
s, which brings the lower surfaces to meet together towards their
gives the bird, when on the wing, a very singular

rodents. It is perbaps worthy of remar
feathers have a kind of twist in their shaft bu
n; and this peculiarity
Pe of the Zoological Society at which Mr. Alfred Newton made the
° evo of the bird, for which he stated he was
oe) . . °

endorff. This egg is figured in the

extremities in a vertical directio
appearance.” At the same me

above remarks respecting this species, ference

: : yon Midd
. - Baldamus, to whom it had been sent by Dr. von Son e se ue ae
ee We ico en for 1861. It is represented as of riot Deowalah Ceara
‘Proceedings o Bee