44 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



local as the preceding species, its breeding area is 

 remarkably restricted, so far as the British Islands 

 are concerned. It breeds on the Hebrides, in 

 Caithness and Sutherlandshire, and on the Orkneys 

 and Shetlands. Richardson's Skua is a more 

 gregarious species than its larger relative, but its 

 habits generally are much the same. It is, for 

 its size, equally daring and rapacious ; is also 

 remarkable for its powers of flight ; but differs 

 from the Great Skua in being more gregarious. 

 Richardson's Skua is for the most part a summer 

 migrant to the British Islands, and numbers of 

 birds pass along our coasts in spring to their 

 northern breeding-grounds. It is only during the 

 seasons of passage that the visitor to our southern 

 coasts may hope to fall in with this bird, and even 

 then it does not approach the land much. Like 

 the other Skuas, the present species is a relentless 

 robber of the Gulls and Terns, chasing them up and 

 down until they disgorge their fish, and repeating 

 the process at every opportunity. Eggs, young 

 birds, and carrion, are also eaten. It is said to 

 capture weakly birds, but I do not think it is so 

 much addicted to this Hawk-like habit as the 

 preceding species. During summer insects and 

 ground fruits are eaten, whilst it has been known 

 to take worms and molluscs. The note of this 

 Skua is described either as a plaintive mee or kyow, 

 and when in chase of a bird it has been likened to 

 the syllable yah, oft repeated. 



