155 



I have occasionally seen as many as from 

 fifteen to twenty tine old birds at one time on a 

 single loch during the summer months, diving, 

 splashing and screaming, and now and then pursu- 

 ing one another both above and below the surface. 

 Whether these were birds that had been robbed of 

 their eggs or young or had only gathered together 

 for the sake of company I can form no idea, as 

 possibly on my next visit to the same loch but a 

 single pair would be visible. 



At times when crossing the hills I have noticed 

 as many as eight or ten flying together. On such 

 occasions they keep in a straight line at regular 

 intervals one behind the other. 



The newly-hatched young are covered with 

 black down ; like all water-fowl they take to their 

 natural element as soon as they leave the shell. 



The specimens in the case w r ere obtained in 

 the west of Ross-shire in May, 1868. 



ARCTIC SKUA. (MATURE). 

 Case 221. 



This bird may still be found breeding in many 

 parts of the north of Scotland and the adjacent 

 islands, the nest being placed on the open moor. 



On land as at sea the Arctic Skua for the most 

 part procures its food by robbery, those that I have 

 seen in Strathmore usually persecuting the un- 

 fortunate Common Gulls that have the misfortune 

 to nest in the same locality. 



The male and female in the case were 

 discovered on being opened each to contain four 

 Smolts or young Salmon. Fish as a rule is their 

 diet, but this they occasionally vary with eggs, 

 swallowing, I believe, the whole or the greater 

 part of the shell, as I have often noticed castings 

 composed entirely of egg-shells on the mounds 

 where these birds are in the habit of resting. 



