rea ae ote 
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amongst them. The birds were of all the different colours that these Skuas affect, from 
sooty black to more than half white, one or two showing a good deal of white on the wing. 
The only other species that breeds in the British Isles is the Great Skua. Always 
restricted in its breeding haunts (only one or two places in Shetland being occupied by it), 
the bird having been considered “ rare,” has suffered accordingly. Indeed, only a few years 
ago its numbers were reduced to a very few pairs, but now, thanks to the fostering care of 
the Edmonstons of Unst, and the Traills of Foula, they are well on the increase, and as 
popular interest and sympathy have been enlisted on their behalf we may consider their 
position as pretty well established. 
If Richardson’s Skua is hawk-like in its flight, the Great Skua is decidedly more eagle- 
like, and I was struck, wheu sitting down watching the birds flying below me, at their strong 
resemblance to a young Sea Eagle that had had the ends of its wings and tail docked. Their 
behaviour when near the nests is just the same as the Richardson’s Skua I have just described, 
though they attack you more from the front, and more often come at you skimming along the 
ground, rising right into your face with their legs and feet stuck out straight before them, than 
with a downright swoop. They are not sociable with other birds at their nesting grounds, 
keeping quite to themselves, and, as far as I could see, allowing no other birds to nest in the 
area in which their own nests were placed. These are large and somewhat untidy heaps of 
dried grass, hollowed out in the centre, while those of Richardson’s Skua are merely slight 
hollows in the ground, generally among short heather, with a slight lining of grass; in each case 
the number of eggs is almost invariably two. These are usually dark brown in the ground 
colour, sometimes of a light greenish brown, and are marked with darker spots and blotches, 
mostly at the larger end. 
The other two species being aliens as regards their domestic economy, we need say no 
more here on that subject, except that they are very much the same as the two already mentioned. 
In the autumn, however, the Pomatorhine Skua is a by no means infrequent visitor to our 
coasts, these being subject at times to an irruption, a notable example of this being the year 
1879, when they were recorded in vast numbers from all parts of the British Isles, appearing 
literally in thousands off the Yorkshire coast. We may add that they appear in summer off 
the coast of Lewis; most of the birds seen there in June being adults in full breeding 
plumage. The Buffon’s or Long-tailed Skua, is the rarest of the genus in the British Isles, 
more especially in the adult state. 
What part the Skuas take in the economy of Nature it is not easy to say, but no one 
who observes birds can fail to be struck with their interesting ways, both “at home” and 
abroad. ‘They seem to be playing at gulls turning into Hawks, and very well they act 
their parts, and with no lack of success. 
One of the local names of the Skuas in Scotland is “ Dirty Allan,” from their habit, as 
described, of eating the fish disgorged by the gulls they chase. In Yorkshire they are 
called “‘Murrylanes,” sometimes spelt “ Murrel-hens,” but the derivation of the word 
is obscure. 
Educational Series.—No. 1.—OWLS. No. 2,—WOODPECKERS. No. 3._STARLING. No. 4.— 
SWALLOWS. No. 5.—KINGFISHER. No. 6.—OSPREY. No. 7.—DIPPERS. No. 8.—NIGHTJAR. 
No. 9.—TITMICE. No.10.-KESTREL. No. 11.—PLOVERS. No.12.—TERNS. No. 13.—WAGTAILS. 
No. 14.—CHOUGH. No. 15.—JAY. No. 16.—SKUAS. 
Others in course of preparation. 
Copies of the above may be obtained from the Society’s Publishing Department, Knowledye Office, 
326, High Holborn, W.C., or from the Hon. Sec., Mrs. F. E. Lemon, Hillcrest, Redhill, on the following 
terms :—Post free: three copies of any one number of the Series, 1d.; one dozen, 8d.; 100, 1s. 6d. 
Assorted packets, one copy of any six numbers, 2d.; one copy of any twelve, or two copies of any six 
numbers, 4d-; or 50 assorted numbers, 1s. Special terms for larger quantities to County Councils, the 
Constabulary, and Schools. 
The Society’s Publishing Office, Knowledge, 326, High Holborn, London, W.C. 1897, 
