NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 865 



hurried off, only to be piu'sued again by the clamorous Sea Gulls. 

 Thus we have examples of retributive justice even among birds." 



Mr. H. H. Travers states he only found the 8ca Hen, or Skua, in 

 certain places on Pitt Island (one of the Chatham Group), and on a. 

 small islet about two miles from that island. It commences to lay in the 

 beginning of December. Two eggs are laid, which are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from those of Larui dominiconiis. Whilst attempting to take 

 eggs the birds attacked him most savagely. Both parents take part 

 in the task of incubation. Round the nest remains of several small 

 sea-birds, chiefly Prions, were found. It appears the Skua is nocturnal 

 as well as diurnal in its habits. During the day Mr. Travers saw the 

 birds usually perched in sunny places on the highest chffs, now and 

 then taking short flights, but not hunting for food. But whilst on 

 Mangare Island he heard the Skua constantly during the night, 

 swooping on the small bii-ds which came on shore to roost. On exam- 

 ining the stomachs of many Skuas, they were always found to contain 

 Prions, usually swallowed whole. 



Mr. George Comer, the collector, writing to Mr. G. E. Verrill, 

 regarding the Southern Skua, states ; " These birds are the same at all 

 the islands in the South Atlantic. At Gough Island they commence 

 laying the middle of September. They lay two eggs. If these are 

 taken they will lay two more. When the Penguins lay, the Sea Hens 

 come ashore in large numbers and get their living by robbing the nests 

 and catching the yoimg Penguins. They also kill young Albatrosses 

 and aU small birds they can catch. The Sea Hen as it grows old 

 becomes light-brown." While Mr. Comer was on Gough Island he 

 killed about three hundred of these birds for their feathers. 



Mr. J. E. Bm-ton infonns me that the Skua airives on Macquarie 

 Island about the middle of August, and that its usual breeding months 

 are October, November, and December, In a pair of eggs one 

 invariably differed from the other in coloiu-ing. Ejected feathers and 

 bones in small bundles, a few inches in length by about half-an-inch in 

 thickness of victims devoured may be observed about the nest or roosting 

 place. 



On Kerguelen, diu-ing the American Transit of Venus Expedition, 

 1874-5, four nests found contained only two eggs each. First was 

 found 17th November. 



I shall continue my remarks on the Southern Skua by quoting the 

 pleasantly-wi-itten statements of Rev. A. E. Eaton, who accompanied 

 the British Transit of Venus Expedition. 



■' Every marsh near Royal Sound used to have its pair of Skuas. 

 Many were destroyed witliin a radius of four miles from the ships ; 

 and before the expedition sailed from the island it was impossible to 

 walk far without coming across dead bodies of the poor creatures. Tlie 

 cause of this useless slaughter was the menacing aspect of the birds, 

 who swoop with fierce impetuosity directly towards the face of any one 

 approaching their domain, rising just in time to clear his head, and 

 uttering short despairing cries. They did not feign to be crippled 

 quite so much as the Skuas of Spitzbergen, but preferred intimidation 

 55 



