LONG-TAILED SKUA 465 
co. Waterford (Thompson). The most recent capture from 
inland counties appears to be that of an immature bird 
taken in co. Armagh, in August, 1898; while Mr. Barrington 
received ‘‘a beautiful adult specimen ”’ from Clare Island, co. 
Mayo, on June 14th, 1906 (‘ Irish Naturalist,’ 1906, p. 193). 
Flight.—This species is as swift and buoyant on the 
wing as its larger congeners, and moves through the air 
eracefully. When in pursuit, its flight is glancing, indeed 
when pressed with hunger it will precipitate itself with 
a great swoop into a flock of Gulls, and singling one 
out, will follow it untiringly until its food is disgorged. 
Food.—The smaller Gulls and Terns are swiftly pursued 
until they are forced to eject the contents of their stomachs, 
which the Skua greedily swallows. But away from the 
tide, other than sea-birds are not exempt from this tor- 
mentor. For example an immature Long-tailed Skua was 
shot on one of the co. Waterford mountains, on October 
14th, 1881, when endeavouring to pounce lke a Falcon on 
Golden Plovers (Ussher). 
Lemmings are perhaps the favourite diet, and the bird 
may be found breeding abundantly where an ample supply 
of these little animals is to be had. But many forms of 
invertebrate creatures are also devoured. Thus Mr. Saxby 
found a few small beetles and vegetable matter like tops 
of heather in the stomach of an adult male in full plumage, 
obtained on May 24th, 1900, in the Shetlands (‘ Zoologist,’ 
1900, p. 281). 
Stevenson recalls a male shot at Breydon in October, 
1890, which vomited several live earthworms (‘ Birds of 
Norfolk’). In addition birds, crabs, shrimps, and other 
marine creatures are consumed, while crowberries are eaten 
in summer by the young. 
Voice.-—The note is rather loud and shrieking and is 
chiefly heard when the nesting-preserves are trespassed 
upon. 
Nest.—The nest is represented by a mere shallow depres- 
sion on the heath-clad moor-land. The eggs, two in number, 
have a rather olivaceous ground-tint, passing to various 
shades of green, blotched and scrolled with darker markings. 
At its nesting-haunts this species shows great courage. 
It will approach with rapidly-beating pinions, and almost 
dash into the face of man, dog, or other trespasser. 
Geographical distribution.—This Skua, circumpolar in 
its breeding-range, confines itself to the higher latitudes 
30 
