168 
LARIB.E. 
claws, and tears the pieces otF by means of its powerful 
beak. 
Fish and other marine animal productions this bird 
chiefly obtains by pursuing the larger gulls the moment they 
have picked up some dainty morsel, and harassing them 
incessantly and with such ardour, that they are obliged to 
disgorge what they have swallowed. The moment this 
is done the Skua catches up the meal, and generally succeeds 
in obtaining it before it reaches the surface of the 
water. 
The flight of the Common Skua is very impetuous, which 
is a necessary qualiflcation for the part it has to perform in 
nature *, and as it is quarrelsome in its disposition, it is 
fortunate that a solitary life for the greater part of its 
existence should agree with its inclination; for the great 
strength of this bird, added to its powerful beak and 
strong arched claws, makes it an enemy of no despicable 
kind. 
The entire length of the Common Skua is two feet; the 
beak is one inch nine lines, black, and much hooked at the 
tip; the upper mandible is covered for more than one half 
with a kind of cere; the wing measures sixteen inches ; the 
tarsus two inches eight lines. 
The adult bird has the head, cheeks, and regions of the 
eyes yellowish brown ; the neck and all the under parts 
reddish ash colour ; the feathers of the neck are vriry and 
pointed, and stand partly erect when the bird is in a pas¬ 
sion ; the back and scapulars are dark reddish brown, each 
feather being dusky on its edges ; the wing-coverts, secon¬ 
daries, and tail, are brown ; the quill-feathers are white on 
their basal half, the remainder deep brown; the first quill 
has the entire outer web brown ; the shafts of the quills and 
