390 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGO^Y. 



carried the chicks one by one to the Loch, the male 

 accompanying her when she was removing the last 

 bird. 



THE SKUA. 



Lestris catarractes. 



[Read 2Sth April, 1SS6.] 



I am inclined to think that on the East Coast 

 of Scotland the Skua is an annual visitor, though 

 occurring in very limited numbers and rarely 

 coming near the shore. It is there known by the 

 following names, with others even less poetic, viz. — 

 ^'Gae- robber," " Thief - Gull," " Pirate - bird," "Dirten- 

 Allan," "Bonxie," &c. 



The Skua is fiercely rapacious, and of a very 

 inquisitive disposition. In scouring the seas it 

 keeps an eye on whatever objects, living or inert, 

 may be floating on the water ; and it cultivates a 

 familiarity with the fishing-boats, Avhich is always 

 welcome to the fishermen ^vho somehow associate 

 the appearance of the bird with good-luck. Not 

 unmindful of the compliment implied in its con- 

 fidence, they throw it offal which it devours 

 greedily and without fear. 



So free is the Skua from all susi^icion of harm on 

 the part of the fishermen, that I have seen it, ^vhile 

 an oar was passing over its head, hold on to garbage 

 thrown to it from a boat; and at times the bird 

 was so near to the boat that I had no difficulty 

 in determining it to be a bird of the year. I could 

 distinctly see the dow^n, which adhered to the 

 feathers on the crown of the liead and extremities 

 of the larger wing-feathers, quivering in the sunny 

 breezes of the September morning. While showing 

 every confidence in the boat, the Skua kept its eyes 

 rivetted on a flock of enraged and envious Gulls 

 that its presence had attracted, which kept soaring 

 and screaming around us, till, having secured his 

 repast, the object of their wrath made off. Follow- 

 ing the humours of the Skua, the Gulls, joined by 



