THE GREAT SKUA 



{STERCORARIUS CATARRHACTES) 



rpHIS imposing species seems always to have 

 -^ been a particularly local one in the British 

 Islands, and there appears to be no reliable 

 evidence that it ever bred in any part of them 

 except the Shetiands. One would have thought 

 that in such a remote locality the bird would 

 have been fairly safe, but of late years it has 

 been mercilessly harassed by collectors, and at one 

 time reduced almost to the verge of extinction. 

 It is, however, most gratifying to record that 

 stringent measures for its preservation were taken 

 in time, with the result that it is now on the 

 increase. All lovers of our British birds must 

 feel grateful to the Edmonston family for their 

 efforts to preserve and protect this at one time 

 vanishing species, and rejoice in the success which 

 has attended them. It is pleasing to know that 

 such efforts have already been acknowledged and 



