THE ALBATROSS, PETRELS, AND SHEARWATERS. 285 



Of Richardson's Skua two forms occur on our coast a 

 light-chested one, known more properly as the Arctic Skua, 

 Richard- and a darker. Both breed in most of the 

 son's Skua. Scottish isles, and intermediate forms are 

 found, which bridge over the differences. The tail is long 

 and tapering. This skua obtains most of its food by vio- 

 lence, but it also feeds on shore crustaceans. Eggs, 2, 

 2^3 inches; green, with brown blotches. 



The Long-tailed Skua is so called from the long brown 

 tail-feathers. It visits our coasts, more particularly on the 

 Long- east side, in autumn, and less frequently in 

 tailed Skua. S p r i n g. Save for the longer tail and some 

 yellow on the neck, this bird is not unlike the somewhat 

 stouter light form of the last. 



CHAPTER XVI. THE ALBATROSS, PETRELS, 

 AND SHEARWATERS. 



[A group of sea-birds, mostly of small size, distinguished 

 by their tubular nostrils. They spend most of their time 

 on, or over, the water, and feed entirely on fish. They 

 comprise three residents ; two regular visitors; five irregu- 

 lar visitors.] 



i. THE BLACK-BROWED ALBATKOSS. 



A specimen of the Black-browed Albatross was taken 

 this summer (July 1897) near Linton, in Cambridgeshire. 

 The legs and feet are greyish-blue, the tail blackish, head 

 and underparts white. The occurrence inland of this 

 southern bird, which has more than once been seen hover- 

 ing in the neighbourhood of the outlying Faroe Islands, 

 created something of a sensation in the press and 

 elsewhere. 



