COMMON S8KUA. 199 
Suzn-ramity STERCORARIINA. 
COMMON SKUA. 
STERCORARIUS CATARRHACTES, Linn. 
Pl. XXXV., fig. 1. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern parts of the Atlantic and North Sea; 
occurring rarely in the mainland of Europe, and principally on the 
western and north-western coasts. In Great Britain during the 
breeding season it appears to be restricted to the Shetland Isles; 
occurs on the eastern and rarely on the western coasts of England, 
and occasionally on the coast of Ireland. 
Food.—Mollusea, Crustacea, fish, and young birds. 
Nest.—A considerable depression in mossy ground, lined with a 
quantity of moss and dried grass, forming a nest about twelve inches 
in diameter by three in depth. 
Position of nest.—On elevated moorland. 
Number of eggs.—2. 
Time of nidification.—VI. 
The Rev. C. A. Johns, in his ‘ British Birds in their 
Haunts,’ says that the Common Skua will attack even the 
Eagle if he approaches its nest. He adds:—‘‘I once saw 
a pair completely beat off a large Hagle from their breeding 
place, on Rona’s Hill.”—(P. 591.) 
Mr. Robert Gray says:—‘‘ The fact of the breeding of 
this Skua being strictly confined to the Shetland Islands 
has of late years led to so much destructive intrusion by 
collectors that it is now only by the most careful protection 
that the birds are enabled to maintain a footing there. 
Thirty years ago there were three separate nesting localities, 
viz., the outlying islands of Foula and Uist, and Rona’s 
Hill on the main island. The last-named haunt is now 
entirely deserted, and in the two others the number of 
Skuas which yearly resort thither for nesting purposes is 
comparatively small. From these haunts a few usually 
find their way southwards along the coasts of the eastern 
counties ; but the bird is of rare occurrence in the west. 
“During the breeding season the Common Skua becomes 
quite fearless, attacking any intruder * in its haunts with 
so much spirit as occasionally to drive both man and dogs 
off the ground. Its habits at other seasons can seldom be 
observed, as it does not often come near the shore.”’— 
(‘ Birds of the West of Scotland,’ p. 493.) 
*~ The attack is directed at his cyes, according to Mr. Gray. 
