SKUA AND ^SKYLARK 95 



Chief Features. — Only found in the far North. A parasitic bird, 

 subsisting largely on the labours of others. Exhibits a daring 

 temper when molested. 



Plumage. — Mottled -brown above ; white on shafts of quills and tail- 

 feathers; rufous-brown underneath; black bill, legs, and feet. 

 Length. — Twenty-five inches. 



SKUA, RICHARDSON'S (Stercorarius crepidatus) 



Local Names. — Allan, Arctic Bird, Arctic Gull, Arctic Skua, Badock, 

 Black-Toed Gull, Boatswain, Dirty-Allen, Dung Bird, Dung- 

 Hunter, Faceddar, Feaser, Labbe, Long-Tailed Labbe, Scoutie- 

 Allan, Scoutin-Aullen, Teaser. 



Haunt. — Open moors, moorlands, and the sea. 



Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — On the ground among heather. 



Materials Used. — Very similar to last named. 



Eggs. — Two. Greenish olive-brown, with dark-brown spots. Smaller 

 than those of the Common Skua. 



Food. — Similar to the Common Skua. 



Voice. — Call, a loud " keeow," " mee," and " mee-awk." 



Chief Features. — A swift, gliding flight. A feathered pirate, robbing 

 Terns and other birds of fish, etc. 



Plumage. — Dusky crown ; white neck, cheeks, and under parts, tinged 

 with brown and yellow; otherwise dusky. Length. — Twenty 

 inches. 



SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis) 



Local Names. — Alovette, Field Lark, Lark, Laverock, Lintwhite, 



Our Lady's Hen. 

 Haunt. — Fields, meadows, commons, moors, and downs. 

 Nesting Period. — April to July. 

 Site of Nest. — On the ground ; often in the footprint of a cow, or 



other depression. 

 Materials Used. — Grass. 

 Eggs. — Four or Five. Yellowish or greyish, thickly freckled with 



dark brown. 

 Food. — Insects, sprouting corn, grass-blades, and seeds. 

 Voice. — Too well known to need description. 

 Chief Features. — Its love of the air and fascinating song-flights. 



Sings nearly the whole year through. 

 Plumage. — Above, three shades of brown, the darkest being along 



the shaft of each feather; over eye a faint streak of white; 



yellowish-white underneath, with a brown tinge; dark-brown 



spots on throat and neck sides, forming a gorget just above 



breast. Length. — Seven inches and a quarter. 



