COMMON SKUA. 485 



territory they inhabit. On approaching the nest an attack 

 instantly commences; male and female in rapid snccession 

 descend from a considerable height, with a velocity and noise 

 trnly startling ; horses, cattle, and sheep, are immediately 

 l)nt to flight, and receive no intermission of attack till avcII 

 driven from the nest ; and if man, bent on sinister purposes, 

 continues to brave the Bonxie's fury, he will seldom accom- 

 plish his aim Avithout carrying away marks of war. The nest 

 is a mere concavity in the ground ; the number of eggs two ; 

 the month of breeding July. The young bird is a nimble, 

 gallant little animal, and almost as soon as hatched leaves 

 the nest. On the approach of danger he secretes himself in 

 holes, or behind stones, with great art ; and when captured, 

 at least makes a show of defence that is quite amusing. The 

 number of these birds that annually breed at Foula probably 

 does not exceed thirty pair." 



Mr. Dunn, who visited the Shetland Islands in 1831 and 

 1833, and shot a considerable number of Skuas, states that 

 several parties from the south, and the officers of a cutter 

 stationed in R.ona's Voe for two or three months, had almost 

 extirpated them in that part. He says he once " saw a pair 

 completely beat off a large Eagle from their breeding-place on 

 E.ona's Hill. The flight of the Skua is more rapid and 

 stronger than that of any other Gull. It is a great favourite 

 with the fishermen, frequently accompanying their boats to 

 the fishing-ground or haaf, which they consider a lucky 

 omen ; and in return for his attendance they give it the refuse 

 of the fish which are caught. The Skua Gull does not asso- 

 ciate in groups, and it is seldom that more than a pair are 

 seen together. The nest is constructed amongst the heath or 

 moss; the female mostly laying two eggs, but sometimes 

 three." 



Young. — The young differ very little from the adult, the 

 feathers generally, being, however, more broadly margined 

 with reddish-brown. 



Remakks. — One of the most remarkable circumstances 

 relative to the history of this species is its occurrence in the 



