GREAT SKUA 455 
Kerry :—One, Tralee Harbour, date uncertain, in the 
collection at Chute Hall. 
Tipperary :—One, near Thurles, November, 1894, received 
by Messrs. Williams and Son. This is an interesting record 
of a bird picked up inland after a storm, and appears to be 
the most recent Irish occurrence. 
Recently a Great Skua was obtained at Dungeness, on 
October 4th, 1900 (W. R. Butterfield, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1900, 
p. 521); another in the Isle of Man, December, 1903 (Ralfe, 
‘Zoologist, 1904, p. 33); another, obtained near Robin 
Hood’s Bay, Scarborough, on June 29th, 1904 (W. J. Clarke, 
‘Zoologist,’ 1905, p. 74); while on September 21st, 1901, 
Mr. Caton Haigh observed a large dark Skua (probably 
S. catarrachtes) on the coast of North-east Lincolnshire 
(‘ Zoologist,’ 1902, p. 132). 
On July 20th, 1903, when in company with the late 
Mr. E. Willams, of Dublin, I had a splendid view of a 
Great Skua in Holyhead Harbour, not far from the land- 
ing stage, an unusual place for such a seafaring’ pirate to 
frequent. I made my observations from the deck of one 
of the cross-channel steamers as she moved slowly out of 
the harbour. When first observed the bird was swim- 
ming on the water. Presently it rose, and with rapid 
beat of wing, directed its course towards a Lesser Black- 
backed Gull which was fishing some two hundred yards 
ahead. Perceiving its aggressor, the Gull shot upwards 
from the water, hotly pursued. The chase was an exciting 
one, the Skua responding so closely to each evading turn and 
swoop, that it almost seemed to overshadow the Gull for the 
creater part of the time. The latter, however, on this 
occasion, did not forfeit its recently-swallowed meal, but 
managed to escape its tormentor by settling on the water. 
Finding the chase of no avail the Skua then flew out 
to sea. 
Flight.—Like that of other members of its Family, the 
flight is powerful, buoyant, and full of rapid turns and 
twists, resembling at times the flight of birds of prey. 
Voice.—The note may be syllabled ska, ska, fron. which 
the bird has derived its name. 
Food.—This species will not only chase Gulls and tire 
them until they are forced to disgorge their food, which is 
'T have met this bird flying leisurely in the middle of the North 
Atlantic Ocean ; lat. 56°, 14’ N., long. 38° 2’ W. 
