THE SKUA GULL. 305 



Fierce in defence of its young. 



They are said to be useful in gardens, where 

 they destroy the insects and worms; their food 

 is chiefly small fish. 



The birds of this kind, are in many places 

 called sea-mews, in others sea-cobs. 



THE SKUA GULL. 



THIS species is nearly two feet in length, and 

 weighs about three pounds. Its bill is two inches 

 and a quarter long, hooked at the end, and very 

 sharp; and the upper mandible is covered more 

 than halfway down, with a black cere or skin, as 

 in the hawk kind. The feathers of the upper 

 parts are of a deep brown, but below they are 

 somewhat of a rust colour. The talons are black, 

 strong, and crooked. 



The skua gull inhabits Norway, the Feroe 

 Islands, Shetland, and the noted rock Foula, a 

 little west of these last. It is the most formida- 

 ble of the tribe; its prey being not only fish, but 

 (what is wonderful, in a web-footed bird) all the 

 lesser sorts of water-fowl, and (according to the 

 account of Mr. Schroter, a surgeon of the Feroe 

 Isles) ducks, poultry, and even young lambs. 



This bird has all the fierceness of the eagle in 

 defending its young. When the inhabitants of 

 those islands visit the nest, it attacks them with 

 such force, that, if they hold a knife perpendi- 

 cularly over their heads, the gull will sometimes 



VOL. iv. NO. 2<). <2 



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