THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



Vol. I. NOV., 1896— FEB., 1897. Nos. 9—12. 



RICHARDSON'S SKUA IN ITS NESTING HAUNTS. 

 By Robert Godfrey. 



This commonly occurring species along our coasts in 

 autumn is during summer restricted, in the British Islands, to a 

 few spots in the Outer Hebrides, Sutherland, Caithness, Ork- 

 ney and Shetland ; with its most important and most densely- 

 populated haunts in the last mentioned group of islands. 

 There he is widely distributed ; and, wherever present, is sure 

 to attract attention, either by his piratical actions, or by his 

 characteristic mewing-call. 



In the long voes of Shetland, when a party of Gulls dis- 

 covers a shoal of sand eels, the fact is soon made known to the 

 rest of the Gull community, who come from all quarters to 

 join the throng, until a dense, living mass is soon hovering 

 and clamouring above the abundant food supply. One or more 

 Skuas — -we have seen as many as six at one time — are generally 

 at hand, hovering on the edge of the throng, or perched on the 

 top of an adjoining skerry, watching the success of the birds, 

 and waiting their opportunity to spoil some successful fisher. 

 Inland the Skua is as well known as by the shore, and his wild 

 mewing call, as he dashes along overhead on the way to his 

 home, is one of the most distinctive of Shetland bird calls. 



The Skua is strong and swift on the wing, and bears some 

 resemblance to a Falcon. Frequently a party of two or three 



