Richardson's Skua 161 



RICHARDSON'S SKUA (LESTRIS 

 RICHARDSONII). 



THIS species has been evidently considered by many 

 authors as the true parasitic or Arctic gull, and it 

 has been described as L. Parasiticus and Crepi- 

 datus. It is certainly the most common of the British 

 Skuas. 



It breeds in the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetlands, where 

 it is more diffused and more abundant than any of the 

 others of its kind. 



The entire plumage is usually of a greyish clove-brown, 

 paler beneath, the edges and bend of the wing only being 

 white ; the auriculars and sides of the neck slightly tinted 

 with shining sienna-yellow. 



Before passing from this remarkable species of gull, I 

 may say it is generally stated that they derive their whole 

 food from their energetic pursuit of other birds, using 

 what they are made to disgorge. 



In the somewhat analogous case of the fish-hawk; we 

 know this is practised ; but at the same time these birds 

 can and do forage for themselves, and one is almost 

 inclined to believe that the Skuas are not quite dependent 

 on the work of others, but occasionally seek food for them- 

 selves, and that the large species will feed on carrion 

 thrown upon the coast. 



The writer must here confess that he has never seen 

 these birds employed for themselves, but there is the 

 possibility of their industry in this direction. 



