BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 353 



(Breat Sfcua. 



THE Great Skua (Stercorarius catarrhactes, Linnaeus) is 

 only known, whilst resident with us, to nest in the Shet- 

 lands, and is mostly met with on its way to and from more 

 northern districts during autumn and winter. It also 

 occurs in North-West Europe, and in the eastern parts of 

 Arctic America. The adult has the general colouration of 

 the plumage dark brown, with rufous or greyish margins 

 to the feathers ; basal portion of quills, white ; irides, hazel- 

 brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, slate-black. Length, from 

 twenty-two to twenty-five inches. The female is similar to 

 the male. The young are said to be more uniform in 

 colour than the adults. 



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