GREAT SKUA POMARINE SKUA. 263 



form of colouring, and a rapid and powerful flight, they are 

 admirably adapted for the mode of warfare by which they 

 subsist. Compact in make, and armed with a powerful bill, 

 they are at all times able to enforce their demand if resisted. 



The present species, nearly equal in size to the lesser black - 

 backed gull, is rarely obtained upon the coast, the first instance 

 on record being the specimen shot by William Massey, Esq., 

 of the Pigeon House Fort, and now in our collection. Ano- 

 ther, which we observed in the collection of Dr. Farren, was 

 found dead upon the Dublin coast by that gentleman. 



They have occurred in two or three instances to Mr. Glen- 

 non, from specimens forwarded for preservation from the east 

 and west coasts of Ireland, and one captured alive, of which 

 the following particulars may not be devoid of interest. 



A skua, with a slight injury on the wing-joint, was sent by 

 the captain of a vessel lying in the bay, in charge of a sailor, 

 to Mr. Glennon, with directions to kill and preserve it. The 

 bird being confined in a large basket, Mr. Glennon, objected 

 to kill the bird, desired the sailor to open it, which he no sooner 

 did than the skua dashed vigorously and determinedly at him, 

 striking with the bill and buffeting with the wings, drawing 

 blood with every successful stroke it made, until at last the 

 sailor drew out his clasp-knife in self-defence, but so well did 

 the bird defend itself, that, had not a tablecloth been flung 

 over it, the contest would have been of long duration. Such 

 vigour and determination did this bird show, that we need 

 not wonder how pertinaciously they are known to defend 

 their breeding haunts when intruded upon. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 253 THE POMARINE SKUA. 



Lestris pomarinus. Temm. 

 Stercoraire pomarin. Temm. 



THIS SKUA, nearly equal in size to the preceding, and dis- 

 tinguished by the same dark shade of colouring, is a bird of 

 more frequent occurrence, an occasional specimen being pro- 

 cured during winter. One, which came under our notice, was 

 purchased in the Dublin markets, in the winter of 1846. 



Another, shot in Belfast Bay,* appeared, from the contents 

 of the stomach, to have been careless of whatever booty it 

 could obtain, " a rat, fishbones, and feathers, being found in 

 its stomach. Whilst a specimen, preserved by Mr. Glennon, 



* Thompson. 



