THE GREAT SKUA IN SHETLAND DURING 1891 87 



third molars in the upper jaw are the smallest (at least on 

 one side, as the last three are missing from the other), and 

 all the crowns of the molar teeth are strongly plaited. The 

 animal had evidently been clubbed, as the nasal bones and 

 the left mandible of the lower jaw are broken, and that may 

 also account for the missing molar teeth in the left side of 

 the upper jaw. The skull with the skin, which, as I have 

 stated above, were all that was preserved, are in my 

 possession. The sex was not ascertained, the man who 

 killed it having no idea of the rarity of his find, and having 

 done so solely for the sake of its hide and oil. 



REPORT ON THE GREAT SKUA (STERCORARIUS 

 CATARRHACTES, Linn.eus) IN SHETLAND 

 DURING THE SEASON OF 1891. 



By William Eagle Clarke. 



The attention which was called to the persecution of the 

 Great Skua, at the close of the disastrous breeding-season 

 of 1890, was undoubtedly the means of doing much good, 

 since it aroused and secured the interest and influence 

 of ornithologists and others on behalf of the bird's future 

 welfare, and for its preservation as an indigenous British 

 species. Then followed the wise and generous act of the 

 Council of the Zoological Society of London in presenting 

 its much-prized silver medals to the representatives of the 

 families of Scott and Edmondston in recognition of their 

 valued services as protectors of the Skuas on their respective 

 domains in past years — a timely recognition which was well 

 calculated to secure for the bird even greater attention in the 

 future. 



In the hope that the publication of the various particulars 

 relating to the Skua in its British breeding-stations during 

 the past year may be the means of furthering the much- 

 needed protection which has been so recently renewed, I have 

 been induced to prepare the following report. In addition 

 to the information indicated, the report gives some particulars 



