156 A TOTAGE TO SPITZBERGEN, ETC. 



15. Stercorarius parasiticus (L.) — We were disappointed in 

 finding only this member of tlie Stercorariida in Spitzbergen it- 

 self, though I believe we saw both the. Pomatorhine and Buffon's 

 Skuas in the open sea to the south of it, and north of Bear Is- 

 land. The present species is very numerous, breeding on all the 

 low-lying mossy "haughs" between the cliffs and the sea. The 

 young were hatched when we arrived, and the old birds ex- 

 hibited great anxiety, and most amusing feints of broken wing 

 and general incapacity, when their nestlings were approached. 



The whole of the Skuas seen in Spitzbergen were of the hand- 

 some white-breasted variety, with black crowns, yellow cheeks, 

 and a dusky band round the chest. The dark unicolorous form, 

 which is by far the most numerous in Shetland, is wholly un- 

 known in Spitzbergen, 



The Skuas were for ever preying upon the industry of the 

 Terns, Kittiwakes, and Guillemots, the latter being frequently 

 compelled to dive (taking a regular ''header" from the wing) to 

 elude the pirate, and save his "cheekful" of Shrimps. They 

 even attacked the huge "Burgomasters," and some followed us 

 all the way from Norway, chasing the Kittiwakes which flew in 

 our wake. 



16. Procellaria glacialis. — This oceanic species joined us the 

 day after leaving Norway, and was our constant companion right 

 up to the Polar ice, just under the 80th degree. "With their 

 strange graceful flight, closely skimming the surface of the roll- 

 ing seas, yet never wetting a feather, the "Hav-hests" struck 

 even the most casual observer as birds of remarkable appearance. 

 Their immense numbers, and their tameness when gathered to- 

 gether to feed on the carcase of a dead "Whale or Seal, were 

 surprising. The summer plumage of these Fulmars differed con- 

 siderably from that usually depicted. The head, neck, and un- 

 der parts were of a dull smoky grey ; while above the ash-blue 

 feathers were much dappled with deeper shades, and with a dirty 

 brown. The whole plumage, in fact, presented a dusky mottled 

 appearance, and on the wing a white band at the base of the 

 primaries was conspicuous. It is a curious circumstance that 



