SKUA. 113 



ever, to this name Bewick observes, speaking of one of the 

 other species, 'It may admit of doubt whether the character 

 of parasitic belongs to any of this tribe, least of all to the 

 present bird. What it obtains from other birds is not by 

 fawning or cunning, but by courageous open assault.' They 

 thus attack even the Gannet. They hold their prey in their 

 claws,- and so tear it to pieces. They have, however, been 

 known to swallow a herring whole. They are great favourites 

 with the fishermen, 'frequently accompanying their boats to 

 the fishing-ground, which is considered a lucky omen.' 



The nest of the Skua is of a large size, as well as somewhat 

 carefully constructed; the materials used being grasses, lichens, 

 moss, and heath. The bird places it on the tops of the 

 mountains or cliffs in the neighbourhood of the sea, but not 

 on the rocks themselves. They build separately in pairs. 



The eggs are only two. They are laid towards the end 

 of June. 



Male; weight, about three pounds; length, two feet, to two 

 feet one inch. The bill, which is much hooked at the tip, 

 is dark brownish black. Cere, black; iris, dark hazel brown. 

 Head, crown, neck, and nape, dark umber brown, with slight 

 streaks of yellowish or reddish brown. The feathers of the 

 neck, which are of a pointed shape, are raised by the bird 

 when excited. Chin, throat, and breast, uniform brown; back, 

 dark reddish brown, with lighter coloured oblong spots. 



The wings extend to the width of between four and five 

 feet; greater and lesser wing coverts, dark reddish brown; of 

 the primaries, the first has its outer web and tip blackish 

 brown, the others "the same on the tips only, and very pale 

 rusty brown at the base of the feathers; the shafts of all of 

 them white and strong. Tertiaries, margined with pale reddish 

 brown. The tail, which is dark brown, is rounded at the 

 end, the two middle feathers a little longer than the others, 

 and darker in colour; the base white. It consists of twelve 

 feathers. Legs, black, strongly and irregularly scutellated in 

 front, and reticulated behind; toes, black. The claws are 

 black, strong, much hooked, and grooved beneath, the inner 

 one the most so. 



The female is much less in size than the male, but other- 

 wise similar. 



