8 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



ends. " Melanotic individuals," the same author adds, " considered to be adults 

 from the fact that they show more or less yellow on the neck sometimes occur, 

 but I do not think that any of these are really mature birds." As the birds 

 become older the yellow on the neck increases and the barring on the flanks and 

 tail coverts, and the neck band, decrease. The adult winter plumage of this species 

 is the same as the summer ; but until the birds are quite mature, striated feathers 

 may appear on the flanks and tail coverts. 



The Pomatorhine Skua " seems to feed chiefly, if not entirely, at the expense 

 of the smaller Gulls, which it causes to disgorge their newly obtained food, to be 

 caught in its descent. Its flight is extremely rapid, ordinarily performed by rather 

 quiet flaps of its long wings, but, in pursuit, by various movements in the manner 

 of a Hawk. It has not been seen to prey upon birds of any kind, nor even to 

 strike with its wings, or otherwise, those which it chases for the contents of their 

 gullet" (Macgillivray). Richardson saw it, in Hudson Bay, feeding on putrid 

 fish, and other animal substances ; and Von Heuglin asserts that in Novaya 

 Zemlya it feeds on lemmings, and watches for them, and when they emerge drops 

 npon them like a Hawk. 



" Immense numbers," according to Mr. Booth, " of both old and young pass 

 over the North Sea while on their return journey from their summer haunts. 

 The first comers may usually be noticed off the south-east coast of Scotland about 

 the middle of August. The earliest arrivals are for the most part, if not entirely, 

 composed of birds exhibiting a state of plumage which I should judge (from the 

 change of those kept in confinement) to be that preceding the assumption of the 

 perfect adult dress." The same author notes that in 1879, during a very stormy 

 October, hundreds and thousands of Skuas were blown on our northern and 

 eastern coasts. On the 3Oth of the month, during heavy squalls of rain and mist, 

 a Skua here and there " would be seen occasionally settling on the sand- banks, 

 evidently desirous of obtaining rest, though the repeated attacks of the swarms 

 of Grey Crows, collected on the beach, forced these weary travellers to take wing 

 almost as soon as they alighted. A perfectly black bird, with long tail feathers, 

 attracted my attention on several occasions when driven up from the water's edge. 

 Each time the Crows approached, with harsh screams and croaks, the stranger rose 

 on wing and made his way slowly to windward, returning again after a short 

 interval drifting in circles before the squalls .... By the end of the first week 

 in November, the greater part of the adults had passed south ; immense numbers 

 must, however, have perished from the effects of the continued gales." 



Mr. Booth believes that Pomatorhine Skuas are five years of age before they 

 attain their perfect plumage. He kept a number of specimens of this species in 



