484 LESTRIS CATARRACTES. 



wings crack, and the doG^ crouch into the hollows of the moor, 

 till Avc came up and relieved him. I folloAved one of them 

 to some distance from the rest, which made me part good 

 company, and received some rude salutes for my imprudence 

 from three of these hirds that made at me with the utmost 

 rage. I defended myself the hest way I could Avith my gnn, 

 fired several times at them, but, as none dropped, the report 

 did not startle them in the least, hut rather seemed to enrage 

 them the more. When the inhabitants are looking after 

 their sheep on the hills, the Skua often attacks them in such 

 a manner that they are obliged to defend themselves with 

 their cudgels held above their heads, on which it often kills 

 itself." 



He further states that it has a hoarse and sti'ong cry, and 

 lives much in the manner of the " Parasitic Gull," attacking 

 the larger kinds of Gulls, as the other does the lesser ; but 

 never meddles with birds to destroy them, nor attacks the 

 lambs on the island, but in its opposition to all formidable 

 intruders protects them from the Eagle, who dares not venture 

 to prey there during the breeding season. In gratitude for its 

 services it was protected by a penalty of sixteen shillings and 

 eightpence for every individual shot, and when met with at 

 sea by the fishermen always had a share of whatever fish 

 might be in the boat. 



Captain Vetch's account in the fourth volume of the 

 Memoirs of the Wernerian Society, agrees with the above : — 

 " The Bonxie, or Skua Gull, I believe, in the British islands, 

 breeds only in Shetland, and there only on three hills, the 

 Snuke in Foula, Ronas, and Saxafiord, which are also the 

 three highest. On Foula they seem to have taken exclusive 

 possession of the Snuke. In its nature it appears to partake 

 both of the nature of the Gull and Eagle tribes. On Foula 

 it breeds generally about a height of 1300 feet, and nowhere 

 but on the Snuke. It is easily tamed, and is, I understand, 

 a very docile bird. I often observed it walking about within 

 a few yards of the tent, and without fearing our approach. 

 When, however, his nest is approached, he shoAvs a determi- 

 nation to defend his possession Avith his life. Ravens, 

 Eagles, Hawks, or other birds, are soon pursued from the 



