2 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the cold wet weather. On 16th July I counted five pairs of old 
birds for certain, and I think there was a sixth pair, but possibly 
one pair may have been counted twice over. I also found one 
young, in down, belonging to one pair, and another, half-fledged, 
appertaining to another pair; neither of these, to judge from 
their actions, had more than one young one. Another pair 
certainly had young very near, as their swoops were fierce and 
rapidly repeated, but I had not time for a prolonged search. 
Of the rest I cannot speak positively, as I did not happen to 
infringe upon their particular domain, and consequently was not 
guided to their young by their attacks, which always increase 
in violence as you get “warmer,” until you are actually over the 
young. Then both birds come swooping down as fast as they 
can charge, and, wheeling short, they repeat their attacks as long 
as the intruder remains. So far then as the Unst Skuas are 
iu question, it is clear that their numbers had suffered no 
diminution in 1879, and that the statements made to Mr. Purnell, 
as to some of them having been lately shot by parties to whom 
leave was given to shoot Richardson’s Skuas, are inaccurate. 
Mr. Edmonstone, to whom their breeding-ground belongs, said 
nothing to me about it, and he could hardly have failed to do so 
had it occurred recently, for the Great Skua was the main 
subject of our conversations, and he takes the greatest pride 
in the preservation of his birds. The place where they breed 
is a good way from Balta Sound, and it would be almost im- 
possible for any one to get on it, with or without a gun, without 
the fact being known ; and, as the first shot would betray him, his 
retreat could be easily cut off, after which the intruder would 
probably pass a bad time. I have also reason to believe that 
there is another colony, if not two, in the islands; but it would 
be quite unnecessary to hint at the localities: 
At Rona’s (properly Roeness) Hill, the highest ground in 
Shetland, which was formerly the best known of the breeding- 
places of the Great Skua, I did not see any from the sides 
or summit, although the vicinity was carefully swept with a 
powerful glass, but I am inclined to believe the statement of 
a very intelligent sailor who knew the birds well, and was positive 
as to some having been there a few years ago. It was generally 
supposed that they had been exterminated in that locality by 
Dunn, a bird-stuffer of Hull, who afterwards settled at Stromness, 
