604 LARIDJ3. 



The Common Skua, however, has a much wider range, and, 

 besides inhabiting Nova Zembla, Spitzbergen, and Iceland, 

 has been found in the southern Hemisphere, in the Straits 

 of Magellan, and at the Falkland Isles, where in a fine 

 harbour on the north-west coast these birds long since 

 obtained the name of Port Egmont Hens. 



The Skua is included by M. Nilsson in his Birds of Scan- 

 dinavia ; and it is known to inhabit the Faroe Islands. 

 Its breeding-stations with us are probably confined to 

 Shetland. Mr. Dunn mentions three, namely, " Foula, 

 Rona^s Hill, and the Isle of Unst. In the latter place it is 

 by no means numerous, and is strictly preserved by the 

 landlords on whose property it may have settled, from 

 a supposition that it will defend their flocks from the attacks 

 of the Eagle. That it will attack the Eagle if he approaches 

 their nests, is a fact I have witnessed ; I once saw a pair 

 completely beat off a large Eagle from their breeding-place on 

 Rona^s Hill. The flight of the Common Skua is more rapid 

 and stronger than that of any other Gull. It is a great 

 favourite with the fishermen, frequently accompanying their 

 boats to the fishing-ground, which they consider a lucky 

 omen, and in return for its attendance they give it the refuse 

 of the fish which are caught. The Common Skua does not 

 associate in groups, and it is seldom that more than a pair 

 are seen together." The female lays two and sometimes 

 three eggs, which are olive brown, blotched with darker 

 brown ; the length two inches nine lines, and two inches 

 in breadth. 



From the north these birds in autumn come down the 

 line of our eastern shore, and specimens have been obtained 

 on the coast of Northumberland, Durham, Norfolk, Essex, 

 Kent, and Sussex. Several were exhibited for sale in 

 the London market during the winter of 1837. On the 



