178 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



ARCTIC SKUA.-(lMMATUEE.) 



Case 227. 



The barred specimen in the present case is probably 

 in its second year ; the two dark birds are, without 

 doubt, but three or four months' old. 



They were shot at sea, off the Bass Rock, in 

 September, 1874. 



HERRING GULL. (SUMMER.) 



Case 228. 



From my own observations, I should be of opinion that 

 the farmer rather than the game-preserver would have 

 a right to complain of the damage caused by the pre- 

 sent species. 



I have never seen a single specimen captured in a 

 vermin-trap set for the destruction of the other Gulls, 

 nor have I ever observed them preying on either young 

 game or eggs. 



In the north they appear to prefer the cultivated 

 tracts of land in the neighbourhood of the coast, where, 

 after feeding in large flocks on the fields, they retire to 

 the rocks to rest. 



Gulls, when alarmed (as the Skua is well aware) 

 usually vomit the contents of their stomachs. By 

 firing a shot amongst a flock while sitting on the shore 

 after feeding, and causing them suddenly to take 

 flight, I have repeatedly found that some cast up a 

 quantity of grain, and others large lumps of mussel- 

 shells, which they uppeared to have swallowed whole. 



That they can, however, make a meal of young birds 



