132 GEE AT SKUA. 



Observation. Note the blackish tips to wings and distin- 

 guish from Common Gull. 



Plumage. Mantle dark lavender-grey. Head, neck, rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, tail, and under parts pure white. Scapulars 

 and secondaries tipped with white. Primaries black, tipped 

 with white. Bill greenish yellow. Legs and feet black. 

 Length 15^ in. Female similar. Our smallest Gull (excluding 

 the stragglers), and distinct, at close quarters, on account of 

 the absence of its hind toe. Young, a row of black marks 

 across secondaries ; back and wings brownish black rather 

 than lavender as in adult ; wing-coverts mottled with black ; 

 tail white, tipped with brownish black. Nestling, covered 

 with dark grey down on the back, otherwise buffish white. 



Language. A cry resembling "kitti-ake," hence its trivial 

 name. 



Habits. Feeds on surface-swimming fish principally, which 

 it procures in a Tern-like manner. Sociable, and when near 

 their nesting haunts, the cliffs resound with their trisyllabic 

 cries. The young are fed somewhat after the manner of young- 

 pigeons. It is a poor walker, but an excellent swimmer, when 

 it rests on the waves like a buoyant cork ; it can also dive and 

 swim under water. Flight graceful, gliding, and rapid, and it 

 also has a propensity for hovering. 



Nest. In May or June. One brood. 



Site. On some inaccessible ledge of the sea-cliffs. 



Materials. Seaweed chiefly, and other marine plants ; lined 

 with dry grass. 



Eggs. Two or three. Stone-colour or brownish, spotted and 

 blotched with dark and light brown and grey. 



Family STERCORARIID^E. 

 GEE AT SKUA (Megalestris catarrhactes) . 



Chiefly known as a visitor in spring and autumn. In these 

 islands it breeds only in the Shetlands. When not breeding it 

 roams over the seas far from land. 



Plumage. Upper parts mottled with brown and white. 

 Shafts of quills white and conspicuous in flight ; under parts 

 rufous brown. Bill, legs, and feet black. Length 21 in. 

 Female similar. Young much like the adults. Nestling 

 covered with brownish grey down. 



Language. A cry resembling " skui," hence Skua. 



Habits. Very strong and swift on the wing, and when near 

 its nest it swoops most menacingly round the intruder's head. 

 Very predacious, and prefers rather to rob Gulls of food they 



