158 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



unstand the GREAT SKUA (S. cdtarrhactes), is one of the 

 shetfaid most local and rare of British birds. It arrives 

 at its breeding-grounds in April and the eggs 

 are laid in May. The nest is similar to that of 

 the preceding, placed on the moors, and the 

 two eggs are pale or dark buffish brown, 

 spotted with dark brown and grayish brown. The 

 large size, uniform dark brown colour, and slightly 

 rounded tail are distinguishing features of this 

 bird. The Skuas are the terror of the Gulls 

 and Terns, robbing them of the fish they catch,, 

 and playing the part of pirates to perfection. 

 On shore they are guilty of devouring the eggs 

 and young of their less powerful neighbours. The 

 Skuas are birds of exceptionally powerful flight, 

 as may be witnessed in the ease with which they 

 chase the Terns and smaller Gulls. They wander 

 far and wide across the sea during the non-breeding 

 season. When their nests are threatened by 

 human intruders the Skuas become very noisy 

 and pugnacious, flying round and round over- 

 head, so that it is an easy matter to identify 

 them. 



vyideiy Great numbers of WILD DUCKS (Anas boschas) 



frequent the moorland pools during summer for 

 the purpose of rearing their broods. This bird 

 is too well known to need description. The 

 Wild Duck is an early breeder, its eggs often 

 being laid by the middle of April, a month later 

 in the extreme north. The nest is by no means 

 always made near water, and is often placed among 

 the heath, especially on an island. Several nests 

 may often be found quite close together. They 

 are made of any dry herbage at hand, and as the 



