BUFFON’S SKUA. 201 
BUFFON’S SKUA. 
STERCORARIUS PARASITICUS, Linn. 
Pl. XXXV., figs. 8, 4. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. In 
Great Britain it occurs sparingly, being rare on the southern coast of 
England; it is, however, said to breed in Scotland. 
ood.—Crowberries, insects, Crustacea, fish, small birds, and 
carrion. 
Nest.—A mere depression in the ground. 
Position of nest.—In mossy, heathy, or grassy wastes. 
Number of eggs.—2-3; usually 2. 
Time of nidrfication.—V1. 
Mr. Gray says that ‘“‘on the mainland of the west of 
Scotland this Skua is only a straggler; but it is probably 
a regular summer visitant to the outer islands. A specimen 
was shot in Skye, in the autumn of 1855, and exhibited at 
a meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh ; 
and in the summer of 1863 I examined a pair that were 
shot on the island of Wiay by Colin McRuig, Esq., surgeon, 
as they hovered over a marsh where there were nests of 
Richardson’s Skua and other birds. The likelihood is they 
had a nest on the spot.” ‘‘ Buffon’s Skua has been found 
breeding in Caithness-shire, though not for some years 
past; and also in Shetland, as I have been informed by 
Mr. Dunn, who procured the eggs from one of three nests 
in the island of Hoy, fifteen years ago.’’— (‘ Birds of the 
West of Scotland,’ pp. 498, 499.) 
In Mr. Seebohm’s opinion, ‘‘ the statements that this 
bird has bred in the Hebrides, in Caithness, and in the 
Orkneys, are founded upon very meagre and entirely 
insufficient evidence.” 
Like the other species of Skua, this bird is very valiant 
in defence of its nest, flying with the utmost fierceness at 
the intruder, who has no little difficulty in defending him- 
self against its attacks. 
