ClafsII. SKUA. 417 



II. The S K U A. 



Our Cataracla, I fuppofe the Skua Hoieri. Clufii Exot. 363, 



Cornijb Gannet. Wil, orn. 369. 



348. Larus Cataraftes. Lin.fyft. 226. 



Raiijyn. a<v. 12S. Skua. Brunnich. orv.itb. 33. 



Catara&es. Sibb. Scot. tab. 14. Feroenfibus Skue. .//?«»*/« Skumr. 

 Sea Eagle. SVM. hift, Fife. 46. Norvegis Kav-Oem. Brunnich. 



Le Stercoraire raye. Brijfon av. 125. 



vi. 152, Brown and ferruginous Gull. Br. 

 Pontopf. Noriv. ii. 96. Z10/. 140. 



/ T\HIS is the moft formidable of the gull kind: 

 ■*■ its prey being not only fifh, but, what is very 

 wonderful in a webbed-footed bird, all the lefier forts 

 of water fowl, fuch as teal, &c. Mr. Scbroter 9 a fur- 

 geon, in the Ferroe ijles^ relates that it likewife preys 

 on ducks, poultry, and even young lambs. It has 

 all the fiercenefs of the eagle in defending its young ; 

 and attacks with vaft force thofe that attempt taking 

 them. When the inhabitants of the iilands vifit the 

 neft, they hold a knife erect over their heads, on 

 which the Skua will transfix itfelf in precipitating it- 

 felf on the invaders. The ftrength of the bill and Defer, 

 claws is fuperior to that of any other of the genus ; 

 the former is two inches one fourth long, very much 

 hooked at the end, and very fharp ; the upper man- 

 dible is covered more than half way with a black cere 

 or fkin, as in the hawk kind •, the noftrils are placed 

 obliquely near the end, and are pervious : the legs 

 are covered with large black fcales, the claws ftrong, 

 (harp and crooked, thofe of the inner tees remark- 

 ably fo. The feathers on the head, neck, bread, and 



D d 4 whole 



