514 NATATORES. CATARACTES. SKUA, 
COMMON SKUOUA. 
Cararactes vuLearis, Flem. 
PLATE C. 
Cataractes vulgaris, Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 137. No. 221. 
Cataractes Skua, Stephens, Shaw’s Zool. 13. 215. 
Larus Cataractes, Linn. Syst. 1. 226. 11.—Gmel. Syst. 1. €03.—Lath. Ind. 
Orn. 2. 818. sp. 12. 
Catharacta Skua, Brunn. No. 125. 
Lestris Cataractes, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 792. 
Cataractes et Catharacta, Raii Syn. 128. A. 6.— Will. 265. 
Le Goéland Brun, Buff: Ois. 8. 408. 
Stercoraire Cataracte, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 792. 
Brown Gull, Albin’s Br. Birds, 2. t. 85. 
Skua Gull, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 529. No. 243.—Arct. Zool. 2. No. 531. A. 
—Lath. Syn. 6. 385. 14.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 6. pl. 211.—Mont. Orn. 
Dict. and Sup.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, ed. 1826, p. t. 229.—Rennie’s Mont. 
Orn. Dict. 463. 
Common Skua, Flem. Br. Anim. t. 137. No. 221.—Shaw’s Zool. 13. 215. 
Port Egmont Hen, Cook’s Voy. 1. pp. 44, 272. 
ProvincraL—Sea-Eagle, Bonxie, Skui. 
Tuts bird, which appears to be the largest of its genus, 
is of compact form, and bold disposition ; which latter qua- 
lity is more especially seen durmg the season of reproduction, 
a period when the instinctive passions of the feathered race 
are called into unwonted activity. It will at that time at- 
tack even man without hesitation, should he happen to ap- 
proach the site of its nest; and so impetuous is its attack, 
that the natives of the Shetland Isles (its peculiar habitat in 
this kingdom) are compelled on such occasions to defend 
themselves by holding up a knife, or sharp stick; upon 
which the assailant has frequently been known to transfix 
and kill itself, whilst making its pounces upon the head 
of the intruder. Dogs, foxes, and other animals, are in- 
stantly attacked, and so severely dealt with by the wings 
and beak of the strong and pugnacious Skua, as to be soon 
driven to a hasty retreat, and no bird is permitted to ap- 
proach with impunity; the Eagle itself being beaten off 
