94 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[chap. 



the use of future Polar explorers. They are perhaps, if they 

 be properly observed, not so rare as is commonly supposed. 



Often during summer in the Arctic regions one hears a 

 pe:^.etrating shriek in the air. When one inquires into the 

 reason of this, it is found to proceed from a kittiwake, more 

 rarely from a glaucous gull, eagerly pursued by a bird as large 

 as a crow, dark -brown, with white breast and long tail-feathers. 



A. THE COMMON SKUA. 



Swedish, Labben. {Lestris pantsitka, L.) 



B. buffon's skua. 

 Swedish, Fjellabben. (Lestris Biiffonii. Boic.) 



C. THE POMARINE SKUA. 



Swedish, Bredstjertade Labben. (Lestris pomftrina, Tem.) 



It is lahhen, the common skua (Lestris parasitica, L.), known by 

 the Norwegian walrus -hunters under the name of tjufjo, de- 

 rived from the bird's cry, " I-o i-o" and its shameless thief-nature. 

 When the "tjufjo" sees a kittiwake or a glaucous gull fly off 

 with a shrimp, a fish, or a piece of blubber, it instantly attacks 

 it. It flies with great swiftness backwards and forwards 

 around its victim, striking it with its bill, until the attacked 



