PLATE I 

 GREAT SKUA. Stercorarius catarrkactes 



June igth, 1897. This Plate was taken at a large colony of Skuas in the 

 north of Unst. The colony is carefully protected. Having obtained permission 

 to visit the site, I went to the ground and met the watcher, who read my letter 

 of permission and proceeded to lead me to the colony. The nests were placed 

 on the west face of a high hill overlooking the sea. On our way we had 

 passed numbers of Richardson's Skuas fluttering on the ground and trying 

 to attract our attention from their nests, but when we reached the Great Skua 

 ground these birds disappeared, and their larger relatives had the place to 

 themselves. 



Nearly all the nests contained a young bird just hatched, except those 

 which had already been hatched out some time. The birds dashed down 

 upon us frequently, and I soon learned from the watcher that the most 

 comfortable plan was to carry a stick above one's head, as I was struck 

 severely by the birds three or four times. 



I took several photos of the nests, round many of which innumerable 

 herrings were lying, so that the young birds had no excuse for feeling 

 hungry. 



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