THE GREAT SKUA 195 



surrounding seas in their piratical quest of 

 food. 



The general colour of the upper parts of the 

 Great Skua is dark brown, mottled and streaked 

 with paler brown, palest on the nape, which is 

 clothed with somewhat pointed feathers ; the 

 quills are dark brown with white bases, very con- 

 spicuous when the wings are outspread ; the tail 

 also is brown, the feathers having concealed Avhite 

 bases. The under parts are pale rufous brown, 

 streaked on the breast and flanks with darker 

 brown. The female is said to be a little larger 

 than the male, otherwise similar in colour. Young 

 birds resemble their parents in colour, but are 

 a trifle more marked with rufous on the back, 

 and the feathers on the nape are not quite so 

 pointed. The total length of this Skua is about 

 twenty-two inches. 



