485 



Michael's, in Alaska; and Mr. Dall obtained it at the mouth of the Yukon. Captain Blakiston 

 received specimens from Hudson's Bay, where it is also recorded by Mr. Mackenzie. Mr. Ross 

 obtained it on the Mackenzie river; and Sir John Richardson obtained nestlings on Melville 

 Peninsula. 



In habits the present species is said to assimilate greatly to its ally, Richardson's Skua. I 

 have never had an opportunity of seeing this bird at its breeding-haunts. The late Mr. Wheel- 

 wright, who found it nesting near Quickjock, in Lapland, writes as follows: — "All the Laps with 

 whom I spoke were well acquainted with this bird. We got our first nest on the 3rd of June, 

 and continued to take fresh eggs until the end of the month. I myself never but in one instance 

 saw more than two eggs in a nest. Once I obtained three ; and as I have taken a single egg 

 from a nest hard sat-on, it appears that they do not always lay two, which, however, we may 

 take to be the general number. The nest is nothing more than a few pieces of dried hay laid 

 in a hole scratched in the ground, always in the vicinity of water ; and I never saw it on a real 

 snow-fell. Although these birds live in colonies, you do not find the nests close together. None 

 breed close to Quickjock; but on the fells about thirty miles to the west they breed in great 

 quantities. No bird is more tame and fearless than this Skua during the time they have eggs ; 

 for they come sailing close over your head when searching for the nest, performing the most 

 beautiful airy gyrations, their long sharp wings and pointed tail giving them a singular and 

 pretty appearance when in the air. Their cry is a loud, dismal shriek, ' i-i-i-ah, je-ah, je-oh, 

 je-oh !' and might be heard day and night over their breeding-place. But as soon as the young- 

 are hatched off, their nature seems to be entirely changed ; and then they never approach within 

 gunshot, but wisely do not betray the proximity of the young (which always manage to hide 

 themselves very cleverly) by any gestures of anxiety. Of all the specimens which I opened, in 

 the inside of one alone did I ever see the remains of a fell-lemming, and in only one other were 

 there the remains of a small mouse. Their principal food appears to be the common crowberry 

 (Empetrum nigrum), a large beetle, and small crustaceans. I never saw any thing except crow- 

 berries in the inside of the young ones. The Laps have an idea that they will kill and eat the 

 young Ptarmigan. I have certainly seen a Skua chase an old Ptarmigan ; but I fancy this was 

 more from wantonness than any thing else. I could scarcely distinguish the male from the 

 female by the plumage. In one example the long middle tail-feathers measured 13 inches, and 

 extended 9 inches beyond the rest." Mr. Collett informs me that in the stomachs of specimens 

 he obtained and examined he found crowberries, remains of crustaceans and fishes, undamaged 

 shells of Litorina litorea ; but he adds that he believes that the present species feeds chiefly on 

 lemmings. One, however, shot by him at Holand, near Christiania, on the 28th October, 1873, 

 had its stomach stuffed full of Lumbrici. Speaking of its note, he says that it differs materially 

 from that of Richardson's Skua, and resembles some of the notes of the Hcematopus, or of the 

 Jackdaw. 



Mr. H. Seebohm, who met with the present species on the Lower Petchora, in Northern 

 Russia, sends me the following note respecting its habits : — " Buffon's Skua was one of those 

 birds which we did not meet with on migration, but observed for the first time in the delta of 

 the Petchora upon our arrival at Alexievka on the 19th June. We generally saw them in small 

 parties of five or six, flying over the island where we were stationed. On the tundra they were 



2b 



