RICHARDSON'S SKUA. 497 



so great was the force with which it struck the gun that its brains 

 were forced out and the death was instantaneous; and I have no 

 doubt that an adroit person might kill numbers in this way/' 



In the islands I have mentioned the skuas are very destructive 

 to the nests of other birds, especially the black-throated and red- 

 throated divers, the eggs of which they break and carry off. With 

 such fare, and the remains of fish which are disgorged by the terns, 

 kitti wakes, and other gulls, against whom it wages a constant war- 

 fare, it manages to pass the few weeks of incubation pleasantly 

 enough. But after quitting its breeding haunts, when there are 

 no nests to plunder, it follows its piratical pursuits entirely at sea 

 or along the shore, dashing with great ease and power into the 

 midst of a flock of terns or gentle kittiwakes, and attacking one 

 after another until its hunger is satisfied. In speed of flight its 

 victims are no match for it ; and the dexterity with which it picks 

 up the falling plunder dropped by the buffeted gull Reminds one 

 of a hawk or falcon more than the action of a sea-bird. 



In coloration of plumage this species seems to vary very 

 much even from the downy state to maturity. I have seen very 

 handsome specimens with all the lower parts, from the chin to the 

 under tail coverts, of a clear yellowish-white, giving the bird at 

 first sight a strong resemblance to the next species; others again, 

 apparently about the same age, are almost wholly dark, with but 

 faint traces of light grey on the neck and throat, in which state 

 they are often found breeding with what may be termed adult 

 birds. The full adult plumage, as in the case of many of the sea- 

 gulls, is not acquired for some time; and as the species is often 

 found nesting in its second year, it would appear that no definite 

 description of the breeding plumage can be given. On referring to 

 Captain Vetch's account, from which I have already quoted, I find 

 he says that "the old birds are generally of a blackish colour all 

 over, with the exception of the belly, which is of a rusty or tarn- 

 ished appearance. Considerable numbers, however, appear with 

 white bellies, and a few variously speckled on the breast, forming 

 a gradation between those with black and those with white bellies. 

 These varieties of colour, I imagine, are the effect of different ages, 

 having observed pairs belonging to the same nest associated in 

 every possible mode of combining the colours, as two whites, two 

 blacks, a white and black, a white and speckled, and a black - 

 speckled, and two speckled." 



