176 
SKUA GULL. Crass I. 
geon in the Ferroe isles, relates that it likewise 
preys on ducks, poultry, and even young 
lambs.* It has all the fierceness of the eagle 
in defending its young: when the inhabitants of 
those islands visit the nest, it attacks them with 
great force, so that they hold a knife erect over 
their heads, on which the Skua will transfix 
itself in its fall on the invaders. 
The Rev. Mr. Low, minister of Bzrsa, in 
Orkney, from whom an accurate history of those 
islands, and of Shetland may be expected, 
confirmed to me part of the above. On ap- 
proaching the quarters of these birds, they 
attacked him and his company with most vio- 
lent blows, and intimidated a bold dog of Mr. 
Low’s in such a manner, as to drive him for 
protection to his master. The natives are often 
very rudely treated by them, while they are at- 
tending their sheep on the hills, and are obliged 
to guard their heads by holding up their sticks, 
on which the birds often kill themselves. In 
Foula it is a privileged bird, because it defends 
the flocks from the eagle, which it beats and 
pursues with great fury; so that even that ra- 
* Hier in Clus. exot. 369. Brunnich, 35. 
+ This work, for want of due encouragement, was never 
published. Ep. 
