'216 POMARINE SKUA. 



legs, claws, and beak deep black, the last brown at 

 its base : the irides brown. 



Found in the northern regions ; very abundant in 

 the Hebrides, Orcades, in Norway, and in Lapland ; 

 but rarely seen southwards, except in very severe 

 tempestuous winters, when it has occurred on the 

 coasts of Holland and England. It breeds in large 

 flocks on the summits of mountains, amongst the 

 grass and heath, laying three or four eggs, oliva- 

 ceous, sprinkled with large brown spots. It is a bold 

 rapacious bird, and during the period of incubation, 

 it defends its nest most strenuously, attacking both 

 man and beast that offers to go near them, and that 

 so violently that the shepherds are obliged to protect 

 themselves with a stick ; and the persons who employ 

 themselves in procuring their eggs are said to hold 

 a knife or other sharp instrument over their heads, 

 upon which the enraged bird precipitates and trans- 

 fixes himself. They feed upon fishes and the flesh 

 of cetacea ; but, unlike the Gulls, they tear their 

 prey in pieces. 



POMAI1INE SKUA. 



(Cataractcs Pomarina.) 



Ca. tarsi postice rugosi. 



Skua with the tarsi rugose behind. 



Stercoraire pomarin. — Lestris pomarinus. Temm. man. d'Orn. 



514. Id. 2 Edit. ii. 793. 

 Stercorarius striatus. Briss. Orn. 6. \o2. pi. 13. J. 2. 

 Pomarine Gull. Lath. Gen. Hist. x. 163. 



