SKUA. 
113 
ever, to this name Bewick observes, speaking of one of the 
other species, ‘It may admit of doubt whether the character 
of parasitic belongs to any of this tribe, least of all to the 
present bird. What it obtains from other birds is not by 
fawning or cunning, but by courageous open assault.’ They 
thus attack even the Gannet. They hold their prey in their 
claws, and so tear it to pieces. They have, however, been 
known to swallow a herring whole. They are great favourites 
with the fishermen, ‘frequently accompanying their boats to 
the fishing-ground, which is considered a "lucky omen.’ 
The nest of the Skua is of a large size, as well as somewhat 
carefully constructed; the materials used being grasses, lichens, 
moss, and heath. The bird places it on the tops of the 
mountains or cliffs in the neighbourhood of the sea, but nob 
on the rocks themselves. They build separately in pairs. 
The eggs are only two. They are laid towards the end 
of June. 
Male; weight, about three pounds; length, two feet, to two 
feet one inch. The bill, which is much hooked at the tip, 
is dark brownish black. Cere, black; iris, dark hazel brown.’ 
Head, crown, neck, and nape, dark umber brown, with slight 
streaks of yellowish or reddish brown. The feathers of the 
neck, which are of a pointed shape, are raised by the bird 
when excited. Chiu, throat, and breast, uniform brown; back, 
dark reddish brown, with lighter coloured oblong spots. 
The wings extend to the width of between four and five 
feet; greater and lesser wing coverts, dark reddish brown; of 
the primaries, the first has its outer web and tip blackish 
brown, the others the same on the tips only, and very pale 
rusty brown at the base of the feathers; the shafts of* all of 
them white and strong. Tertiaries, margined with pale reddish 
brown. The tail, which is dark brown, is rounded at the 
end, the two middle feathers a little longer than the others, 
and darker in colour; the base white. It consists of twelve 
feathers. Legs, black, strongly and irregularly scutellated in 
front, and reticulated behind; toes, black. The claws are 
black, strong, much hooked, and grooved beneath, the inner 
one the most so. 
The female is much less in size than the male, but other¬ 
wise similar. 
VOL. VIII. 
I 
