THE SKUAS. 207 



Gull appeared to be on an average slightly larger. The last-named species is found all over Europe 

 and in North-eastern America, and from its lighter colour is often called the Silvery Gull. Mac- 

 gillivray gives a good account of its habits, and writes as follows : ' On extensive beaches, and 

 especially on such as run out into an angle or point, multitudes may be seen reposing, often inter- 

 mingled with Common Gulls (Larus canus), and sometimes with individuals of the two Black-backed 

 species. The flight of this Gull is strong and buoyant, direct and unwavering when the bird ia 

 proceeding towards a distant place, and then usually elevated, but on ordinary occasions somewhat 

 devious, although from its size this species is not capable of turning and winding so dexterously as- 

 the smaller kinds. When engaged with a shoal of fry the Herring Gulls hover over the water, now 

 ascending to the height of about twenty feet, then skimming close over the surface ; and on observing- 

 an object, stretching upward and vibrating their wings, and letting down their feet so as to touch and 

 sometimes pat the water, they pick it up without alighting. Sometimes they plunge partly into the 

 water, and occasionally pick up their prey while swimming. All this while they emit now and then 

 a loud and rather shrill cry. Their food consists of fishes of small size, occasionally large dead fish, 

 crabs, echini, asterias, and mollusca. In winter and spring they often travel in bands over the fields,, 

 searching the pastures, and especially ploughed lands, for worms, grubs, and insects.' " 



Although, as a rule, Gulls have well-defined ranges for the separate species, the sub-family is- 

 very widely distributed, as might be anticipated in the case of such sea-loving birds, and there is no- 

 portion of the globe without its Gulls. The Skuas (Stercorarius) are also widely distributed, and 

 are amongst the most rapacious and predatory of the Gulls. In Europe there are several species, the 

 largest being the Great Skua (S. catarrhactes). In the Southern Ocean this species is replaced by a larger 

 one, of a brown coloration, like its northern congener ; this is the Antarctic Skua (S. antarcticus)? 

 and the Rev. A. E. Eaton, who went as naturalist to the last Transit of Venus Expedition, describes 

 its habits in Kerguelen Island as follows : " Every marsh near Royal Sound had its pair of Skuas. 

 Many were destroyed within a radius of four miles from the ships, and before the expedition sailed 

 from the island it was impossible to walk far without coming across dead bodies of the poor creatures. 

 The cause of this useless slaughter was the menacing aspect of the birds, who swooped with fierce 

 impetuosity directly towards the face of any one approaching their domain, rising only just in time to 

 clear his head, and uttering short despairing cries. They did not feign to be crippled quite so much 

 as the Skuas in Spitzbergen, but preferred intimidation as a means of averting danger from their nest. 

 When they thought they had succeeded in making the enemy retreat, they celebrated their 

 triumph standing face to face upon the ground, with their wings extended vertically so as almost to- 

 meet above their back, whilst one or two loudly chanted a paean, consisting of a dozen notes or so- 

 delivered in the tones of a Carrion Crow. In October they also used to croak now and then during; 

 their flight, and this croak, which was discontinued in the breeding season, was very like the lower 

 croak of a raven ; indeed, it was at first difficult to re-assure oneself that they were not a species of 

 Crow as they circled in the air far off, and the blue-jackets used to call them ' Black Crows ' for 

 some time, but before long the designation ' Molly-Hawks ' came to be applied to them. This 

 change of name took place at the commencement of the Petrel-digging. If Blue Petrels (Prioii) were 

 turned loose in the day-time they were invariably chased by Skuas, and killed on the wing before they 

 had flown half a mile. Petrels of one sort or another seem to constitute the staple food of these 

 Skuas. They hunt for them in the evening when it is becoming dusk, flying i-apidly along the 

 hill-sides, close to the ground, like Hawks, ready to pounce upon any that they may see emerging from 

 the mouth of their burrows. Again, in the early morning they are upon the wing to waylay Petrels 

 returning from the sea. Nor are they idle during the rest of the day ; and they are very fond of 

 birds' eggs, of which they devour a great many. The old Skuas were much puzzled when they saw 

 Rabbits come out of Petrels' holes. They hovered for a long time over their heads, and at length used, 

 to stand beside the mouths of the burrows waiting for the young ones to creep forth, just as if they 

 were watching for Petrels. It is doubtful whether they will succeed in ridding the island of these 

 mischievous vermin, although the young birds reared by me readily fed upon rabbits procured with 

 the sling." 



Besides the Great Skuas of the genus Catarrhactes there are several smaller kinds belonging to> 

 the genus Lestris, of more graceful build, and distinguished by long pointed tails. 



