596 LARID^. 



down and caught the substance before it could reach the 

 water. The two then quietly returned to their sand- 

 bank, where they waited patiently to renew the robbery, 

 should an opportunity occur. As the flock of Gulls moved 

 on with the flow of the tide, the Boatswains moved on 

 also, hovering on their flank like a pair of plundering 

 freebooters. I observed that, in chasing a Gull, they 

 seemed perfectly to understand each other as to who 

 should get the spoil ; and in their attacks on tlie largest 

 Gulls (against whom they waged the most fearless warfare), 

 they evidently acted so as to aid each other. If another 

 pair of Boatswains intruded on their hunting-ground 

 they immediately seemed to send them further off; not 

 so much by actual battle, as by a noisy and screaming 

 argument, which they continued most vigorously till the 

 new comers left the neighbourhood. 



"I never saw these birds hunt for their own living in 

 any other way than by robbing the other Gulls. Though 

 not nearly so large as some of the birds which they attack, 

 their Hawk-like swoops and great courage seem to enable 

 them to fight their way most successfully. They are 

 neatly and powerfully made, their colour a kind of sooty 

 dull black, with very little gloss or shining tints on their 

 feathers." 



BUFFON'S SKUA. 



LESTRIS BUFFONII. 



Frincipally distinguished from the last by its inferior size. Two central tail- 

 feathers tapering, pointed, and projecting nine inches. Length, exclusive of 

 the two central tail-feathers, thirteen and a half inches. Eggs unknown. 



Buffon's Skua is very similar to the last in all respects 

 except size, being of less bulk but greater length. It is 

 of very rare occurrence, but in habits probably resembles 

 the other species. 



