SKUAS 



(35) Megalestris skua 



(BrUnn.) {Gr., great robber). 



SKUA; ROBBER-GULL. Ad.— 

 Entire upper parts, blackish-brown; 

 bases of primaries and shafts of 

 wing and tail feathers, white; under 

 parts a trifle paler and streaked 

 with whitish on the throat. Iris 

 brown. Bill large and strongly 

 hooked. Feet strong, webbed and 

 with talons like those of birds of 

 prey. L., 22.00; W., 16.00; Tar., 

 2.5o; B., 2.10. Nest. — A cavity in 

 grass or moss on the tops of sea-cliffs. 

 The two eggs are olive-green or drab, 

 spotted with olive-brown, 2.90 x 1.75. 



Range — Breeds from Iceland and 

 the Shetland Islands, northward, 

 and occasionally in Greenland and 

 Labrador. Rarely in winter, south 

 to Long Island. 



Order LONGIPENNES. Long-winged Swimmers 



Birds of this Order agree in ha^^ng long wings, nostrils 

 lateral and open, tail fairly long and of twelve feathers. 



Family STERCORARIIDiE. Skuas and Jaegers 



A small family of sea-birds having piratical desires that 

 they can readily accomplish, as they are armed with sharp, 

 hooked beaks and hawklike talons. Bill with a horny cere 

 covering the base and nostril. Feet webbed. 



The GREAT SKUA is one of the largest and very strongest 

 of the sea-birds. They are not uncommon in northern Scot- 

 land and Iceland, but are rarely observed in this country. 

 They have been taken but a few times on the Massachusetts 

 and Long Island coasts in winter. They are protected and 

 encouraged to breed in the Shetland Islands, as the herders 

 believe they drive destructive eagles away from their flocks. 



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