Dec. 1, 1865.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



273 



mile or so from the sea. The uest is a mere con- 

 cavity iu the ground ; the eggs, two in number, are 

 laid in the mouth of June. It is during the nesting 

 season that the bird displays such courage and 

 tenacity in holding possession of its domain. When 

 the uest is approached, the bird shows a deter miua- 

 tion to defend its own. Any bird, whether raven, 

 gull, or hawk, that happens to stray into the Skua's 

 territorj', is at once attacked ; the parent birds dart 

 down from a considerable height, and dash vehe- 

 mently, with a noise and speed truly astonishiug, 

 against the intruder, and cease not the attack until 

 tlie enemy is well driven away ; even when the 

 intruder is the more powerful Bonsie, do they 

 continue the charge without intermission, ilan 

 even is not prepared to brave the gull's fury, 

 he receiving constant ilaps with the wings of the 

 bird; usually the bird comes sweeping along full at 

 the person, and when within a foot, rises a little in 

 its flight, so as just to graze tlie head. If a stick be 

 elevated at this juncture, the bird swerving to the 

 right or left, skilfully avoids the obstacle ; but not 

 uufreciuently dashing against it, falls a mangled 

 corpse at one's feet, a prey to its own fury, so 

 great is the vehemence of its charge. 



The Ptichardson, like the Partridge and Plover, 

 employs the same stratagem to decoy enemies from 

 its nest, — scrambling along on all fours (wings and 

 legs), assuming an appearance of being disabled 

 and incapable of flight, tumbling over and over ; thus 

 exciting pursuit, but in a direction away from its 

 nest ; and on the success of its trick, mounts and 

 leaves one with the impression that he has been 

 " sold." 



The Scories of this species (for so the young of 

 all gulls are called) are the least sombre of tlie 

 tribe; the plumage of the young Richardson may be 

 fairly called handsome ; it is of a glossy, darkly 

 speckled-brown. It is a cunning, nimble little bird, 

 and leaves the nest soon after it is hatched. It 

 secretes itself in holes, behind stones, or lies close 

 among the vegetation on being approached, and 

 when captm-ed, its show of defence is really very 

 amusing. 



The Skua Gull, or Bonsie {Lestris catarades), is 

 one of the largest of European gulls, and is only 

 an occasional visitor to Great Britain, save in the 

 Shetland Isles, to which it annually resoits for 

 breeding purposes. It is there, however, confined 

 to one or two stations. It is said still to brep.d on 

 the island of Poula ; it formerly bred on Her- 

 maness, Unst, where, until the death of its protector, 

 Thos. Edmonston, Esq., the colony numbered about 

 twenty pairs. Since his decease, which occurred a 

 few years ago, a war of extermination has too 

 successfully been carried on against this noble bird. 

 The nests have been robbed, the old birds have been 

 shot, — for a price was fixed on their skins and eggs ; 

 and this wanton destruction has resulted almost iu 



the extinction of this rarity. Though fortunate in 

 seeing a live Skua, it was under unfavourable circum- 

 stances ; he was not at home, for though a bird of 

 great power, he was harassed by the Bichardsons, 

 and exhibited all the appearance of an Ishmael 

 among his tribe. 



To the sportsman, a successful shot at this fine bird 

 may be a source of gratification; but the wantonness 

 exhibited by visitors to these islands, the main ob- 

 ject often being nothing more than to secure the 

 skins of this sea-fowl, is a theft, and its results -are 

 sad to contemplate. Take me out of the beaten 

 track of sight-seekers, too often indelibly marked ; 

 I wish for none other museum than the precipices 

 and moorlands, if the extermination of a species like 

 this is to be the sacrifice. 



The habits of the Bonxie are the same as those of 

 the Bichardson. Tliis bird is no less tenacious of 

 its domain, and is as fearless in defence of its nest 

 as its congener. When the Bonxie is attacked by 

 the Richardson, for it is the old story, " every cock 

 can crow on his own dunghill," he has one resource 

 left, that of alighting ; for the tactic of his aggressor 

 is lost, his long pinions, so advantageous while on the 

 wing, are quite the reverse on the ground. 



The Pomerine Gull {Lestris Pomari/ms) is a rare 

 visitant to the Shetlands. It approaches the Bonxie 

 in size, and resembles the Richardson in plumage. 

 Specimens are occasionally shot. 



Ralph Tate, F.G.S., &c. 



MISTLETOE. 



THOSE who live in the orchard districts of 

 Herefordshire can scarcely avoid being struck 

 vv'ith the quantity of mistletoe. Being, as I may say, 

 brought into contact with it in my daily walks, and 

 having an interest excited in me by others, I en- 

 deavoured to collect what information I could con- 

 cerning its mode of growth. The result of a short 

 research is here. If you think it worth insertion, it 

 is at your service, and may perhaps induce others 

 to examine more fully and carefully this remarkable 

 parasite. 



A description of the stem, leaves, and flowers will 

 be found in any botanical work, and would therefore 

 be superfluous. 



The seed is heart-shaped and compressed. A ver- 

 tical section (fig. 2) shows tivo club-shaped radicles, 

 which are superior, i.e., directed towards the apex of 

 the fruit (fig. 1). In the seeds I have examined I 

 have met with two, showing oyze radicle only. Baxter, 

 in his " Elowering Plants," says that some exhibit 

 three. These radicles bend themselves down or up, 

 as the case may be, to the surface on which the seed 

 is sown, and attach themselves to it before the 

 plumule extends itself (fig. 3). 



As far as my observations liave gone, I am led to 

 believe that birds are the great means of dissemina- 



