THE SKUA. 309 



the extremity with a crooked point, which almost appears as if 

 it was supplementary. These birds principally frequent the sea- 

 shore, but at the time of storms they venture further inland. 

 They fly very rapidly, even against the strongest wind. They 

 pursue the Sea Mews and the Terns most inveterately, and some- 

 times even Boobies and Cormorants, their only aim being to 

 deprive these birds of the prey they have caught ; for the Sea 

 Mews and the Terns are their purveyors. Incessantly do they 

 pursue, harass, and beat these species until they have forced 

 them to disgorge and drop their booty: before the fish falls 

 into the sea it is caught by the active persecutors. This singular 

 habit has given rise to the belief that Skuas feed upon the excre- 

 ment of the Sea Mew, and to this they owe their name of Dung- 

 birds. 



In some countries, as the Shetland Islands, these birds are 

 held in veneration. The care and protection of the sheep are 

 almost entirely intrusted to them, owing to their possessing an 

 inveterate hatred against Eagles ; for as soon as the monarch of the 

 air appears in view, three or four of them combine together to 

 give him battle. They never attack him in front, but harass 

 him pitilessly until his strength is so reduced that they can 

 completely conquer him, or at least force him to retreat. In 

 recompense for these services, the inhabitants are in the habit 

 of throwing to the Skuas the refuse of their fisheries. 



These birds almost always live in solitude, so that they may 

 be more readily able to procure their food, which consists of fish, 

 mollusks, eggs, young sea-birds, and small mammals. They inhabit 

 the Arctic regions of Europe and America, and make their nests 

 in the heather ; they lay from two to four eggs, which are 

 sat upon by the male and female birds alternately. They are 

 courageous enough to defend their young brood against any kind 

 of animal, and even against man. 



There are four European species: the Parasite Skua (Lestris 

 parasiticus) , which inhabits Greenland, Newfoundland, and Spitz- 

 bergen, and visits tolerably often our Atlantic coasts ; Richard- 

 son's Skua (Lestris Richardsonii] , which is very plentiful in 

 Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and North America ; the Pome- 

 rine Skua (Lestris pomarinus), which is very common in New- 



