348 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



Of these, the first, the great skua, breeds in the 

 Shetland Isles. This bird is the largest of the 

 four above-mentioned varieties, measuring from 

 twenty-four to twenty-five inches in length, It 

 is but rarely seen inland except in very severe 

 weather, remaining out at sea. It is unknown in 

 Ireland. The plumage of the upper parts is of a 

 dark brown, that of the under parts somewhat 

 lighter in colour ; the legs and feet are black, the 

 latter furnished with sharp, hooked claws ; the 

 quills of the primary feathers are white at their 

 bases, and these are very noticeable when the 

 wings are outstretched. 



The twist - tailed or pomatorhine skua is a 

 visitor chiefly to our Eastern coasts, from the 

 autumn to the spring, and occasionally, after 

 heavy weather, may be met with at some distance 

 inland. It derives its first name from the peculiar 

 upward twist of its tail-feathers. Colonel Irby 

 states that two forms or races of this bird are 

 found, both dark brown above, the dark form 

 as dark below as above, the light form white 

 below, barred on the flanks and the tail-coverts 

 with dark brown ; white on the throat, tinged 

 with golden yellowy and sometimes extending 

 round the nape. In length it measures twenty- 

 one inches ; the two centre tail-feathers slightly 

 longer than the others. 



Richardson's or the Arctic skua is said to breed 

 in Scotland, and on some of the Northern Scottish 

 islands. Similarly to the pomatorhine skua, two 



