i88 



GULL GROUP 



congregated at the larger end, and the deep-seated markings much 

 more in evidence. 



Lonff-tailed Skua '"^^'ho^g^'' there are traditions that the long-tailed, or 



(Stereorarius Buffon's, skua once bred in the north of Scotland, it 



parasiticus) ^ ''' P^bable that there has been a confusion in this 



respect between Richardson's skua and the present 



species, and consequently that the latter has never been anything more 



than an irregular visitor to the British Isles. As its ordinary name 



implies, this skua — the long-tailed jaeger of some districts, and the 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAHO WARD STUDIOS 



I.()N(;-T.\II.KI) SKLA. 



res-bog-nick (robber) of the Cossacks in Siberia — is distinguished from 

 all the other members of the group by the excessive elongation of the 

 slender middle pair of tail-feathers. As a rule, the colour of the 

 plumage shows a tinge of grey, paler than in the light phase of the 

 Arctic skua. Like the last, this skua breeds all round the Pole, 

 generally within the limits of the Arctic Circle, except in a few 

 localities farther south where high ground affords it a sufficiently 

 cold climate. Its winter-range in the Old World does not extend 

 south of Gibraltar. In addition to the great length of the middle 

 tail-feathers, which may project more than 9 inches beyond the others, 

 this species is characterised by its small size (13^ inches, exclusive of 

 the aforesaid feathers), and by the fact that only the first and second 

 primary quills of the wing have white shafts. The general colour of 



' In regard to an alternative name, see above, p. 183. 



