44 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 
local as the preceding species, its breeding area is 
remarkably restricted, so far as the British Islands 
are concerned. It breeds on the Hebrides, in 
Caithness and Sutherlandshire, and on the Orkneys 
and Shetlands. Richardson’s Skua is a more 
gregarious species than its larger relative, but its 
habits generally are much the same. It is, for 
its size, equally daring and rapacious; is also 
remarkable for its powers of flight; but differs 
from the Great Skua in being more gregarious. 
Richardson’s Skua is for the most part a summer 
migrant to the British Islands, and numbers of 
birds pass along our coasts in spring to their 
northern breeding-grounds. It is only during the 
seasons of passage that the visitor to our southern 
coasts may hope to fall in with this bird, and even 
then it does not approach the land much. Like 
the other Skuas, the present species is a relentless 
robber of the Gulls and Terns, chasing them up and 
down until they disgorge their fish, and repeating 
the process at every opportunity. Eggs, young 
birds, and carrion, are also eaten. It is said to 
capture weakly birds, but I do not think it is so 
much addicted to this Hawk-like habit as the 
preceding species. During summer insects and 
ground fruits are eaten, whilst it has been known 
to take worms and molluscs. The note of this 
Skua is described either as a plaintive mee or kyow, 
and when in chase of a bird it has been likened to 
the syllable yah, oft repeated. 
