OUR PETS. 75 



more imperative and more fierce in his attacks. 

 Nothing for it, therefore, but to give up or disgorge 

 the object of contention ; which she does at last with 

 a very bad grace certainly, and with a loud scream of 

 angry disgust. Before it has reached the sea, it is 

 snapped up and carried off in triumph by this freebooter 

 of the air. Owing to this singular habit of the Arctic 

 skua, we had a theory that there was some weakness 

 or peculiarity in his digestive organs, which rendered 

 it necessary that his food should be partially digested, 

 or at least lubricated with foreign saliva, before it was 

 in a fit condition for his delicate stomach. I do not 

 know if there is anything in the notion ; but certain it 

 is, we never saw him fishing or seeking any kind of 

 food on his own account, like other respectable and 

 industrious birds ; and seldom ever saw him that he 

 was not fiercely engaged in pressing and persecuting 

 his neighbours in the manner and for the purpose de- 

 scribed. Moreover, the young birds of this species 

 were our only pets that never throve well in captivity; 

 but notwithstanding the utmost care and attention, 

 always pined away after a few months and died. 



The variation in the plumage of the adult Arctic 

 skua, as is well known to ornithologists, is very 

 remarkable and very perplexing. There are two 

 distinct varieties, and only two. One is dark brown 

 all over ; the other is of a similar colour on the back, 

 head, and neck, but the lower part of the breast and 

 the belly are white. It is not accounted for by sex, 

 as we proved by dissection, and as we knew perfectly 



