267 



RICHARDSON'S SKUA. 



Lestris Eichardsmii. 



PLATE XXVIII. 



THIS species has been evidently considered by many 

 anthors as the true parasitic or arctic gull, and it has 

 been described as L. parasiticus and crepidatus. It 

 is certainly the most common of the British Skuas, 

 but is a larger and much more strongly formed bird 

 than the next. Late in autumn, when the young and 

 old birds have left their breeding stations and scatter 

 themselves about, this species is not uncommon in the 

 Firth of Forth, and may be seen pursuing its course 

 like the two preceding, distinguished (as they all are) 

 at once by its swifter flight and darker plumage. We 

 have procured many specimens there in various states 

 of plumage, and have once or twice shot both the 

 adult and young. At a similar season we believe 

 it is generally to be seen around our islands, and 

 Mr. Yarrell has given a few instances of speci- 

 mens being obtained southward ; but to judge from 

 his statistics, it would appear to be scarcely so 

 frequent there as the last. Its breeding stations 

 are various islands in the Hebrides, Orkney and 

 Shetland, where it is more diffused and more abun- 



