468 



6 



in the first year's plumage, obtained by Mr. Cockerell off Cape York, the northern extremity of 

 Australia. 



Of the American continent it inhabits the northern portions, but does not appear to be, 

 generally speaking, common. Messrs. Dall and Bannister did not meet with it in Alaska; but 

 Bernard Ross observed it on the Mackenzie river; and, according to Richardson (Faun. Bor.- 

 Am. ii. p. 429), it is not uncommon in the Arctic seas and northern outlets of Hudson's Bay, 

 where it makes its first appearance in May, coming in from seaward, and retires from the north 

 in winter. On the west side of the continent it is only recorded from the Prybilov islands as a 

 rare visitant; but Mr. Howard Saunders (P. Z. S. 1876, p. 326) believes that a Skua seen by 

 Mr. Gervase F. Mathew at Valparaiso and Coquimbo must have been referable to the present 

 species. On the east side of North America it is not uncommon, occurring off Labrador ; and 

 on the coast of Maine it is, Mr. G. A. Boardman informs me, common in the autumn and winter. 

 It is stated to straggle as far south as the State of New York ; and Professor Spencer F. Baird, 

 who states that adult birds seldom occur off the coasts of the United States, adds that he obtained 

 a fine old bird at Harrisburgh, in Pennsylvania, which was shot on the Susquehanna, near that 

 town, in September 1839. 



In habits the present species does not differ appreciably from its ally Richardson's Skua, 

 and, like that bird, it subsists chiefly by plundering the Terns and smaller Gulls of their hard- 

 earned prey ; but it does not disdain carrion, and is said to feed readily on putrid fish and other 

 animal substances cast up by the sea, and will also forage after live fish for itself. In Novaya 

 Zemlya, according to Von Heuglin, it feeds chiefly on lemmings, and watches for them, hovering 

 in the air, pouncing down on them like a Hawk. He further states that he frequently observed 

 it swimming on the water or perched on a lump of ice, and that its call-note is a short harsh call 

 resembling the word crali. Von Middendorff compares its call to the cry of distress uttered by a 

 Teal when scared away from her young. 



But little is known respecting the nidification of the present species of Skua ; and its eggs 

 are extremely rare in collections. Von Middendorff found it breeding on the tundras of Northern 

 Siberia, but gives but meagre details respecting its nidification. The number of eggs deposited 

 is, he says, two ; and they are laid in a depression in the moss of the tundra, without any attempt 

 to construct a nest. It also breeds, as above stated, in Northern Greenland ; but from there we 

 lack any details as to its habits or mode of nidification. I possess a single egg, obtained through 

 Herr Justitsraad Erichsen, from North Greenland, which is much smaller than the eggs of the 

 Great Skua, though somewhat larger than those of Richardson's Skua, and in general character 

 and markings resembles the eggs of the former species, but is rather less olivaceous and more 

 thickly spotted. In size it measures 2^ by lf^j inch. 



The specimens figured are the adult and young birds above described, both being in my 

 collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



