The Ivory Gull 

 THE IVORY GULL 



Pagophila eburnea (Phipps) 



Some thirty or forty examples of this Arctic Gull have 

 been taken in these islands ; it is entirely circumpolar in 

 distribution and breeds on Spitzbergen, Franz Josef Land, 

 ISTovaya Zemlya, and other Arctic regions. 



The adult is entirely white ; bill greenish grey with a 

 red tip ; legs black, the hind toe being well developed. 

 The young bird is mostly white, but spotted on the back, 

 wings, and tail with brownish black. Length 18 in. ; wing 

 13 in. 



THE GREAT SKUA 



Megalestris catarrhactes (Linnaeus) 



The Skuas are a group of birds closely allied to the Gulls, 

 being very similar in general build, but both the claws and 

 beaks are sharper and more hooked. 



As a rule they chase Gulls and Terns, compelling them 

 by so doing to disgorge their last meal ; this the Skua then 

 devours, leaving the Gull in peace to hunt for more. They 

 are not, however, always content with this second-hand 

 dinner, but sometimes kill and eat the Gulls themselves; 

 they also devour offal and carrion. 



The Great Skua is a scarce species, and is but seldom 

 seen round our shores. The only breeding-stations within 



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