GULLS AND TERNS. 41 



birds that continue to replace their taken eggs, but 

 one brood is reared in the season. 



THE SKUAS. 



These birds may be readily distinguished, even 

 when on the wing, by the cuneiform or wedge- 

 shaped tail, and by the dark upper plumage. The 

 bill is also much stouter and hooked at the point, 

 whilst the claws are sharp and curved. Skuas are 

 only exceptionally seen by the ordinary visitor to 

 the sea-side. In the first place, they only breed in 

 our islands in the extreme north or west of 

 Scotland, and in the second place they are decidedly 

 oceanic in their habits, after the nesting season is 

 passed. Occasionally Skuas may be seen on 

 migration, especially in autumn, and along our 

 eastern and southern seaboard ; occasionally they 

 are driven shorewards by protracted stormy 

 weather, and under these circumstances have 

 frequently been known to visit inland localities. 

 Odd birds are generally seen, perhaps a party of 

 half a dozen, but on very exceptional occasions 

 large flocks make their appearance witness the 

 thousands of Pomarine Skuas that visited the 

 coast of Yorkshire during the autumns of the 

 years 1879 and 1880. 



The Skuas are birds of remarkably powerful 

 flight, displaying marvellous command over them- 

 selves in the air, turning and twisting with great 

 speed. These birds are the Raptors of the sea ; 



