GREAT SKUA, 663 



been separated by naturalists from the true Gulls, from a 

 just appreciation of the differences, both in their external 

 characters, and also in their habits. The Skuas may be 

 considered as forming a conspicuous portion of the pre- 

 daceous division among the swimming birds, as indicated by 

 their powerful and hooked beak and claws. Their food is 

 fish, but they devour also the smaller water birds and their 

 eggs, the flesh of whales, as well as other carrion, and are 

 observed to tear their pray to pieces, while holding it under 

 their crooked talons. They rarely take the trouble to fish 

 for themselves, but, watching the smaller Gulls and Terns 

 while thus employed, they no sooner observe one to have 

 been successful than they immediately give chase, pursuing 

 it with fury ; and having obliged it from fright to disgorge 

 the recently- swallowed fish, they descend to catch it, being 

 frequently so rapid and certain in their movements and 

 aim as to seize their prize before it reaches the water. On 

 this account these birds have been called Parasitic Gulls, 

 because they are supported by the labours of others. With 

 the exception of two species closely allied to the Great Skua, 

 the members of this genus have their breeding-places in the 

 higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere. 



As regards the British Islands, the only breeding-places of 

 the Great Skua are in the Shetland group. One of these 

 is in Unst, where the bird is carefully protected by Mr. 

 Edmonston ; and another is on the outlying island of Foula, 

 the property of the Scotts of Melby, who do all in their 

 power to maintain the scanty race. In spite of every pre- 

 caution, a few eggs are stolen every year by the islanders for 

 sale to tourists at Lerwick, and any deficiency in the number 

 of genuine specimens is made up by the substitution of care- 

 fully-selected eggs of other Gulls. This fine bird formerly 

 bred on Kona's (properly Koeness) Hill, in Mainland, the 

 highest ground in Shetland, where it was said by the late 

 Mr. Hewitson to have been exterminated by the late Kobert 

 Dunn of Hull ; but from evidence obtained on the spot, the 

 Editor has reason to believe that, to some extent, Dunn 

 was made the scapegoat for the sins of others. In the 



