166 
LARID.E. 
NATATORES. 
LARWM. 
PLATE CCCXIL 
COMMON SKUA. 
LESTRIS CATARACTES. 
The Common Skua is a constant inhabitant of the He¬ 
brides and Orkney Islands, and during very stormy weather 
makes its appearance on our English shores, as well as on the 
coast of Holland. 
This species extends northward from us to the Arctic 
regions, inhabiting the coast of Norway, the Shetland and 
Feroe islands and Iceland ; in which parts it breeds in 
great numbers. It occurs also periodically on the Irish 
coast, as well as on the Scottish coast and lochs. 
In America this bird is of frequent occurrence, in Green¬ 
land, Labrador, Hudson’s Bay, and Newfoundland; and 
found periodically half way down the shores of the United 
States. 
We have further to observe that the Common Skua is 
not solely confined to the northern pole of our earth, but 
is equally numerous near the South Pole, having been found 
