IIICHARDSON'S SKUA. 497 



Terns, the latter of which it resembles in its mode of flight, 

 although it moves more directly, with scarcely perceptible 

 undulations. There it passes. Let them who choose de- 

 scribe its flight partly from recollection and partly from 

 fancy, we take notes from nature. At times it may be ob- 

 served flying about at some height, iu short curves, in the 

 manner of a Hawk. It is then not inspecting the deep 

 below, nor stealing upon its prey, nor pretending to be 

 doing nothing, for the purpose of catching the unwary, but, 

 like an idle gentleman or useless half-pay captain, merely 

 taking a turn till dinner-time. When approaching a bird at 

 full speed, it flies directly forward, with frequent flaps ; and 

 when in pursuit, it turns, ascends, falls, and glides, with the 

 most elegant and easy motions. AVhen its object has been 

 attained, it flies off with a less rapid, but steady flight, to 

 renew its attacks. But, as there is nothing more to be seen 

 here, we may stroll along; and, in the meantime, I may 

 give the rest of the Pirate's history. 



" These birds are rather numerous in autumn along the 

 shores of the Firths of Forth and Tay. Along our eastern 

 shores they are met with here and there. In the Firths of 

 Beauly and Cromarty they are at least as frequent as in 

 those of the south of Scotland. On the Solway and in 

 the Clyde they are also seen. But in winter they are all 

 gone ; and in summer the places in which they are to be 

 met with are the Orkney and Shetland Islands on one side, 

 the Outer Hebrides and some of the Inner on the other. 

 During the whole of the warm season they are there not 

 inicommon, and are as often seen in the sounds and chan- 

 nels as along the sandy shores. But the places in which 

 they are to be met with in the greatest abundance are on 

 the heaths at a distance from the sea, to which, however, they 

 still resort, as the distance of three or four miles is to them 

 less than that of three or four hundred paces is to us, or 

 at least to many people. But the history of its nidification, 

 egging, hatching, and nursing will best form the end of the 

 story. 



" The Pirate can neither dive nor plunge, but it swims 

 with ease, and sits lightly on the Avater, like a Gull. The 



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