120 BIRDS OF ICELAND 



August, but about that time and earlier {e.g., July 25) 

 I have seen this bird at sea consorting with the 

 next species within a few miles of the coasts of Ice- 

 land. Faber declares that it bred near Eyrarbakki, in 

 June 1821, but as no one else has even suggested such 

 a possibility, he must have been mistaken, especially 

 since he describes the eggs as no longer than those of 

 Richardson's Skua. It breeds in Western Greenland, 

 north of Egedesminde, and more or less in Northern 

 Asia. 



The adult is dark brown above, black on the head ; 

 neck white with light yellow hackles on the sides; 

 underparts white in adults, with a brown band across 

 the chest when partially immature, and the under- 

 parts more or less barred with dusky. The most 

 characteristic feature is the two central tail-feathers, 

 which are prolonged four inches beyond the rest and 

 turned half round, with the blade at right angles to 

 them, the greatest diameter being vertical and not 

 horizontal, like the rest of the tail. This peculiarity 

 can be seen a long way off. Length 21 inches, wing 

 14 J inches. Quite young birds are brown all over, with 

 lighter rusty tips to most of the feathers, and the two 

 tail-feathers but little elongated. 



Like other Skuas, the Pomatorhine robs gulls and 

 terns of the produce of their fishing, and will eat any 

 dead offal, floating or cast ashore. 



