in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 457 



following particulars :— " Seven or eight years ago a few pairs of 

 the Long-tailed Skua were always to be found breeding on the 

 same ground with the commoner species. This was on a large 

 inland flat^ studded with small dark lochs. Besides the two Skuas, 

 the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Common Gull, and the Cur- 

 lew used to breed on the same spot. In 1860, a pair of Long- 

 tailed Skuas were shot on this ground during the breeding-sea- 

 son; and when Dr. Sinclair, in 1840, published a list of the 

 Birds of Caithness, he had found only the Long-tailed Skua, 

 which at that time seemed to be the most numerous and easily 

 obtained on this breeding-ground.^' 



On revisiting this spot in 1861, Mr. Shearer found that nearly 

 all the Skuas had been destroyed by a gamekeeper, who made a 

 point of shooting every bird that attempted to breed on the 

 moor. It may be added that Mr. Shearer is perfectly aware of 

 the difference between the Long-tailed and Arctic Skuas, and 

 that he has always been accustomed to distinguish the two 

 species. 



Mr. Robert Gray, of Glasgow, who has paid much attention 

 to the birds of the West of Scotland, tells me that he has seen a 

 pair of the Long-tailed Skua, male and female, which were ob- 

 tained, in June 1862, on the Island of Wiay, off Benbecula^ one 

 of the Outer Hebrides. These birds were shot above a marsh 

 where the Arctic Skua was breeding ; so that there can be little 

 doubt that they had a nest. 



Mr. J. H. Dunn tells me that three pairs of the Long-tailed 

 Skua bred in Hoy Island in 1852, when he obtained their eggs. 

 None have nested since. 



Procellaria glacialis [Linn.). Fulmar. 

 Province XVIII. 

 Subprovince 36. 

 Lat. 57°-58°. "Scottish" type. Not in Ireland. 



Only in the Outer Hebrides, where St. Kilda has long been 

 noted as the principal breeding-place. Yarrell adds the neigh- 

 bouring islands of Borrera and Soa, on the authority of Mr. 

 G. C. Atkinson, " who was informed that the birds also breed 

 in the South Isles of Barra." 



