98 WILD NATURE'S WAYS. 



party, and promptly gives unremitting chase. It 

 does not matter how the fugitive twists, doubles, 

 or dives through the air, the robber's swifter 

 wings always secure to him the advantage until 

 the terrified gull is at last reluctantly compelled 

 to disgorge its prey, when it is allowed to go its 

 way without further molestation. If the harried 

 bird should attempt to seek safety by alighting 

 on the water, its unrelenting oppressor quickly 

 disconcerts it by a series of tremendous down- 

 ward swoops, which generally have the desired 

 effect of inducing the wretched sea-mew to take 

 wing again. My friend Mrs. Jessie Saxby has 

 seen an enraged skua even strike and kill an 

 obstinate gull that would not relinquish its catch 

 of fish. 



The illustration of an Arctic skua appearing 

 on the opposite page cost me a good deal of 

 trouble and a horse and trap the journeying over 

 forty-eight miles of rough road. I heard of a 

 distant Hebridean gamekeeper, who had a nest 

 belonging to the species under observation for 

 me ; but alas ! when I reached the place, it was 

 too late the chicks had already taken their 

 departure. My field-glasses and a little patience, 

 however, soon rectified the consequences of this 

 misfortune, and in brilliant, breezy weather, I 

 fixed up my hiding tent near by a second nest, 

 and went inside to wait and hope. 



