COMMON SKUA. 
167 
on the shores of the Falkland Islands, in the straits of 
Magellan, and in Terra del Fuego ; it is also an inhabitant 
of the distant and unfrequented islands of New South 
Georgia and Kirguellin’s land, in the Antarctic ocean, dis¬ 
covered by Captain Cook. 
The Common Skua is a regular inhabitant of the open sea, 
and extends northward from the South Pole as far as the 
Cape of Good Hope. 
The breeding-localities chosen by this bird are moun¬ 
tains or heathy moors that are unfrequented by all other 
creatures, with the exception of birds, and those are prin¬ 
cipally sea-fowl. 
At the approach of spring, numbers congregate in 
these parts, but as soon as the breeding-time has 
ended, these individuals go each their own way, and 
live either in pairs, or by themselves in a solitary 
manner, till the folloAving year reminds them of their 
duty. 
While the breeding-season lasts, this Skua is exceed¬ 
ingly ferocious, for every intruder, whether man, bird, 
or beast, is attacked by it, and driven from the locality 
that it has chosen. Men when attacked are obliged to 
defend themselves stoutly; dogs and foxes are driven otF 
the ground, and the eagle itself is obliged to take proper 
warning. 
The nest of the Common Skua is placed on the ground, 
and formed of weeds, lichens, and grasses; the female 
deposits therein her two or three eggs, which are in appear¬ 
ance as represented in our Plate. 
The food of this species consists in fish, offal, animal 
matter, such as carcasses of the larger kinds of fish, 
whales, seals, &c., on which the bird fastens itself by its 
