255 



SUBFAMILY STEKCOKARIIN.E.— GENUS STEECOEARIUS. 



GEEAT SKUA. 



Stercorarius catarrhactes (Linnaeus). 



An uncommon visitor, usually occurring in autumn, 

 but sometimes in winter, and odd Ijirds have now and 

 then been seen well on into the summer months. All 

 the Skuas are called locally Sea-Hawks, and by the 

 coast fishermen a less euphonious name is also given 

 them, from their habit of pursuing and forcing Gulls to 

 disgorge their food, which, when dropped, is popularly 

 supposed to be their fteces. 



POMATOEHINE SKUA. 



Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Temminck). 



A prett}' regular visitor in autumn, few years passing 

 without one or two specimens being shot in September 

 or October. In October, 1879, when the great irruption 

 of Skuas took place on the Yorkshire coast {ZooL, 1880, 

 p. 18, T. H. Nelson), one was shot on the Kibble near 

 Samlesbury ; and after storms this species has several 

 times been taken in other localities inland. 



EICHAEDSON'S SKUA. 



Stercorarius crepidatus (J. F. Gmelin). 



Has been shot from October to April, but is not 

 common, and away from the coast is very rarely seen. 



