868 SKOOI—SK UA 
movement, while the lower mandible, which is considerably the 
longer of the two, is laterally compressed so as to be as thin as a 
knife-blade. This bird is the Rhynchops nigra of Linneus, who, 
however, united with it what proves to be an allied species from 
India that, having been indicated many years before by Petiver 
(Gazoph. Nat. tab. 76, fig. 2), on the authority of Buckley, and named 
by J. R. Forster in 1781, was only technically described in 1838 by 
Swainson (Anim. Menag. p. 360) as L. albicollis. A third species, R. 
flavirostris, inhabits Africa; and examples from South America, though 
by many writers regarded as identical with &. nigra, are considered 
by Mr. Saunders (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 522) to form a fourth, 
Ff. melanura of Swainson (ut supra, p. 340), and he has now separated 
southern examples as a fifth, £2. intercedens. All these resemble one 
another very closely, and, apart from their singularly-formed bill, 
have the structure and appearance of TERNS. Some authors make 
a Family of the genus, but it seems needless to remove it from 
the Laridx (GULL). In breeding-habits the Skimmers agree with 
the Terns, the largest species of which group they nearly equal 
in size, and indeed only seem to differ from them in the mode of 
taking their food, which is well described by Mr. Darwin (Journ. 
of Researches, chap. vii.) from his own observation, and is of course 
correlated with the extraordinary formation of their bill. 
SKOOI, see SKUA. 
SKRABA, see SCRABER. 
SKUA,! the name for a long while given to certain of the 
Laridx, which sufficiently differ in structure, appearance and habits 
to justify their separation as a distinct genus, Stercorarius (Lestris of 
some writers), subfamily, or even, according to a late author, a 
Family—Stercoraruidx. Swift of flight, powerfully armed and 
intrepid, they pursue their weaker cousins, making the latter dis- 
gorge their already-swallowed prey, which is nimbly caught before 
it reaches the water; and this habit, often observed by sailors and 
fishermen, has made these predatory and parasitic birds locally 
known as “ Teasers,” ‘‘ BOATSWAINS,” and, from a misconception of 
their intent, “Dunghunters.” On land, however, whither they 
resort to breed, they seek food of their own taking, whether small 
mammals, little birds, insects, or berries; but even here their 
uncommon courage is exhibited, and they will defend their homes 
and offspring with the utmost spirit against any intruder, repeatedly 
shooting down on man or dog that invades their haunts, while 
1 Thus written by Hoier (circa 1604) as the name of a Freroese bird (hodie 
Skuir), an example of which he sent to Clusius (Zxotic. Auct. p. 367). The word 
being thence copied by Willughby has been generally adepted in English, and 
applied to all the congeners of the species to which it was originally peculiar, 
