264 LARIDJE. 



had the remains of a sea-gull in the stomach, with a quantity 

 of fishbones. 



Of great beauty in the plumage of the adult, we see the 

 feathers of the neck exhibiting a rich, glistening, yellow colour. 

 This appears very conspicuous in a specimen in the possession 

 of Dr. Robert Ball of this city, shot amongst a flock of sea- 

 gulls in the Phoenix Park. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 254 RICHARDSON'S SKUA. 



Lestris Richardsonii. Yarrell. 

 Stercoraire Richardson. Temm. 



THE rarest of the Lestridse, Richardson's skua is seldom ob- 

 tained, and, like the pomarine and Buffbn's skua, chiefly in 

 immature plumage. Closely resembling Buffbn's skua, it is 

 difficult to distinguish between them, as, on three occasions, 

 we have noticed small skuas whilst on the wing ; but in two 

 of those instances were unable to determine their species from 

 their distance from us, and their rapid flight. 



In the autumn of 1847 a skua was observed by a friend for 

 several days frequenting the entrance of the river LifFey, 

 by whom it was remarked to us when we had the pleasure of 

 observing its habits. Apparently upon the best terms with the 

 black-headed and kittiwake gulls, it did not offer them the 

 least annoyance, passing them many times with its swift and 

 rapid flight. Whilst in view it flew down and rested for a 

 considerable time upon the buoys placed in the river. Two 

 days after, we saw the bird at Mr. Glennon's house, .having 

 been shot by a person in the neighbourhood, from whom we 

 purchased it. 



Since that time we remarked a skua profiting by the ex- 

 ertions of a flock of terns who were busily engaged fishing 

 off the extremity of St. Patrick's Isle at Skerries. Dashing 

 into the midst of them, it singled out one which had just 

 emerged from the water, and which dropped at once the finny 

 prey it had so unprofitably secured, when instantly it was 

 caught by the skua before reaching the water. Several times 

 the little fish would be observed silvering for a moment in the 

 air before that black little pirate could seize and secure it. 



Once, in the summer of 1852, a skua passed closely by us 

 on the rocks at Lambay, and shot out seawards, continuing 

 its rapid flight until it disappeared. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



