88 OCEAN BIRDS. 



gracefiilly round and about the vessel, this robber goes flapping hurriedly and silently 

 along, straight from his rocky home to the ship, to return as quickly when his curiosity, 

 hunger, or piratical ambition is satisfied. No sweeping majestically over the ocean in 

 gigantic circles extending from either horizon ; no wheeling gracefully over the broken 

 waters astern ; no games ; no skylarking ; nothing but an excursion, perhaps for food, 

 but more probably from a curiosity to see what it all means, at the same time hoping 

 it may afford a good opening for a row. 



The Falkland Islands are a sure find for a "Cape Hen" (where their local name is 

 "Cape-Egmont Hen"); so on board a sailing ship on the homeward voyage from Australia 

 (round the Horn) those passengers interested in such matters should keep a good look-out. 

 In my last Australian voyage I was particularly anxious to get one of these specimens, as 

 they are smaller and somewhat different to the more northerly birds. I had often seen one 

 astern, but only in such weather that prevented a boat being lowered to obtain a shot. 

 Once or twice I thought I had fairly hooked one on my Albatross-gear, but on hauling in 

 he seemed to let go his hold. On nearing the Falklands I knew my chance was at hand, 

 so gun and line were duly prepared, and the Captain kindly arranged I should be informed 

 immediately a Skua was in sight. Sure enough, on nearing these inhospitable shores, 

 one came flapping out to the ship at a great pace. I happened to be Albatross-fishing 

 at the time, and remarked how all the other birds respectfully withdrew till his Royal 

 Highness settled alongside my bait. This he promptly tore in pieces, but altogether 

 declined to be caught ; and the same game was enacted over and over again. It was like 

 fishing for big-pond Carp, when they will go on sucking off your most carefully-prepared 

 baits. After having eaten all he wanted he flapped off home again, as, though my gim 

 was ready prepared for him on the after-skylight, it would have been useless firing. 

 However, the next day, at tiffin, the officer on watch called down the skylight, " Skua 

 overhead!" and rushing up on deck I found our friend high in the air in hot pursuit 

 after a Whale-bird. After waiting some little time both pursued and pursuer flew right 

 over the ship, and though I managed to hit him right enough, he unfortunately fell on 

 the poop-rail, and even balanced there, but not long enough to give the midshij)man 

 on watch time to grab him before he slipped oft' into the sea. The heavy sea on 

 prevented our being able to lower a boat ; so I lost my Skua after all, and saw no more 

 that voyage. I have never myself seen more than a solitary specimen at a time, but 

 I have been told they occasionally appear in pairs. 



Gould, in ' Birds of Australia,' says : — " I may mention that all the specimens from 

 the Southern Hemisphere are rather darker in colour, and somewhat larger in size, than 



