WATCHING GULLS AND SKUAS 99 



are now apart again as before, but after a short in- 

 terval the one that has behaved in this odd way- 

 returns, and they again stand vis-a-vis, regarding 

 each other, but this time without so much bowing 

 or raising of the head. Then one of them — and 

 I think it is the same one — turning as before, 

 there is almost an exact repetition, and this may 

 take place some three or four times in the course 

 of an hour. 



The two will then often take wing and fly for a 

 while together, sometimes over the sea, but more 

 often in a series of wide circles round and about 

 their home. They are masters of flight, and, after 

 two or three flaps, will glide for long distances with- 

 out an effort, alternately rising and sinking, varying 

 their direction by a turn of the head or, as it seems, 

 by presenting the broad surface of their wings to the 

 different points of the compass, and sweeping either 

 with or against the wind, apparently with equal ease. 

 Or, with the wind blowing violently (its normal state), 

 they will neither advance nor recede, and it is cer- 

 tainly a very surprising thing to see one of these 

 great sombre - plumaged birds hanging motionless, 

 or almost motionless at but a foot or so above the 

 long coarse grass, which is being all the while bent 

 and swayed in the direction towards which its head 

 is turned ; if it advances at all, it is against the bend 

 of the grass. 



But though I have said that the great skua is a 

 master of flight, I have not yet termed its flight either 

 graceful or majestic. For a long time, indeed (during 

 which I had only seen it near its temporary home), 

 I was unable to do so, not, at least, with a full con- 



