AUKS 121 



Skuas and Jaegers are Gull-like birds found along 

 the waters of the northern hemisphere. They differ 

 from typical Gulls and Terns not only anatomically 

 and in their more sombre colouration, but also in their 

 habits. They are known as parasitic, from the fact 

 that they chase Gulls and force them to disgorge the 

 fish they have captured. So expert is the Skua that 

 he will catch the fish dropped by his victim before it 

 can reach the sea. Skuas also devour the eggs and 

 young of any other birds which may have the misfor- 

 tune to be breeding in their neighbourhood. 



The nestlings of the various species of Skuas differ 

 from those of Gulls and Terns in being dark and 

 whole-coloured, instead of grey and mottled with 

 black. 



The Parasitic Jaeger and the Long-tailed Jaeger, 

 as it is often called, are found the whole way round the 

 northern hemisphere, having a wide range over the 

 Arctic regions of America. See Plate 38, Fig. 226. 



Auks 



The Auks — in other words, the Guillemots, Razor- 

 bills and Puffins — are among the most interesting of 

 living birds, for there can be little doubt that they are 

 descended from some Plover-like ancestor and that 

 their present peculiarities of shape and structure were 

 slowly acquired as they became more and more aqua- 

 tic until they have assumed a close resemblance to the 

 far more ancient Diving-birds. As divers and in the 

 skill they display in the capture of fish, which they 

 chase under water, these birds have no rivals. They 

 are never met with in fresh water, but frequent rocky 



