named author states that it breeds in colonies, but 

 that the nests are scattered over a considerable area. 

 Von Middendorff, who obtained the first authenticated 

 eggs of this species, says that this Skua arrives on its 

 breeding-grounds on the Taimur Peninsula on the 17th 

 of June, that eggs were laid on the 4th of July, and 

 that young in down appeared on the 27th. On the 

 16th of September they were still at their breeding- 

 grounds, and one was seen on the 3rd of October. 

 The nest is placed in the grass or moss in the open 

 tundra ; the number of eggs is invariably two, and in 

 colour they precisely resemble those of Richardson's 

 Skua. The food of the present species consists of fish, 

 crustaceans, and molluscs, in addition to the insects, 

 fruit, lemmings, or small birds which form its chief 

 diet during the breeding-season. The parents defend 

 their young with great bravery, and at sea follow and 

 bully the flocks of Kittiwakes after the fashion of the 

 other members of the Skua-family. This bird has been 

 captured in the Straits of Gibraltar, and exceptionally 

 straggles into the western basin of the Mediterranean. 



