120 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



from three of these birds that made at me with the utmost 

 rage. I defended myself the best way I could with my gun, 

 fired several times at them, but, as none dropped, the report 

 did not startle them in the least, rather seemed to enrage them 

 the more. When the inhabitants are looking after their sheep 

 on the hills, the skua often attacks them in such a manner 

 that they are obliged to defend themselves with cudgels held 

 above their heads, on which it often kills itself. 



The method of life is much the same as in the parasitic 

 gull (our former species), only this attacks the larger kind of 

 gulls as the other does the lesser. By the most minute inquiry, 

 could not find that it ever meddled either with its congeners or 

 others to destroy them. Its fury seems to be more defensive 

 than offensive. When we meet it at sea it seems to be a stu- - 

 pid like bird, and often swims within an oar's length of the 

 boat. 



In Foula this is a privileged bird, no man will nor dare 

 shoot it, under the penalty of sixteen shillings and eightpence 

 sterling, nor destroy its eggs. When they meet it at sea 

 whatever fish they have in the boat skua always get a share, 

 and all this out of gratitude for beating off the eagle, who 

 dares not venture to prey on the island during the breeding sea- 

 son. Skua, indeed, is not so strong as the former, but much 

 more nimble, strikes at him without mercy with such effect 

 that he makes the eagle roar aloud, and his retreat is so sud- 

 den as to avoid all danger from his clumsier antagonist. 



I asked particularly whether skua did not sometimes pay 

 himself for defending their flocks, by taking a lamb now and 



