Class II. SKUA GULL. 



great force, fo that they hold a knife erect over 

 their heads, on which the Skua will transfix itfclf in 

 its fall on the invaders. 



The Rev. Mr. Lozv, minifter of Birfa, in Ork- 

 ney, from whom an accurate hiftory of thofe 

 iilands, and of Shetland may be expected, con- 

 firmed to me part of the above. On approaching 

 the quarters of thefe birds, they attacked him and 

 his company with mod violent blows; and intimi- 

 dated a bold dog of Mr. Low's in fuch a manner, 

 as to drive him for protection to his mafter. The 

 natives are often very rudely treated by them,, 

 while they are attending their iheep on the hills •, 

 and are obliged to guard their heads by holding 

 up their (licks, on which the birds often kill them- 

 felves. In Foula it is a privileged bird, becaufe it 

 defends the flocks from the eagle, which it beats 

 and purfues with great fury \ fo that even that ra- 

 pacious bird feldom venturer, near its quarters. 

 The natives of Foula on this account lay a fine on 

 any perlbn who deftroys one : they deny that it 

 ever injures their flocks or poultry, but imagine it 

 preys on the dung of the Arctic, and other larger 

 gulls, which it perfecutes till they mute for fear. 



Mr. Ray and Mr. Smith * iuppofe this to be the 

 Cornijh Gannet\ but in our account of that bird 

 we fhall fliew that it is a different fpecies. Mr. 

 Macaulyf mentions a gull that makes great ha- 



* Hifi. Kerry. 

 f Hijl. St. Kilda. p. 158. 



Vol. II. N n voice 



