BIRDS. 
•235 
[Not abundant anywhere along the north coast, except 
at Duncansbay Head, where there are some fair colonies, 
and larger ones on the east coast soi;th of that headland. 
Sub-family STERGORARIINj^. 
354. Stercorarius catarrhactes {L.). Common Skua. 
An occasional visitant to the Caithness coast, most often seen 
during September and October. A living specimen that 
came into Mr. Osborne's possession, when food was thrown 
to it would spring suddenly on it, and stand over it with 
extended and rapidly moving wings. At such times it 
would rush at any unsuspecting fowl that came near it, 
and, getting its head in its bill, try to swallow the bird 
whole, which, of course, the skua was unable to manage. 
Its cry was " Skui, skui," from whence probably the name 
"Skua" (0. MSS., 1868). 
355. Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Temm.). Pomatorhine Skua. 
Rare visitant; four were seen at Balnacoil on the 13th of 
October 1879, a year famous for the number of these birds 
obtained all through the country. 
I^ote. — These birds appear to frequent the ocean and 
seas of the Outer Hebrides in some numbers every summer 
of late years. We saw them not uncommonly west of 
Lewis in 1881. 
An extremely rare visitant to Caithness (0. MSS., 1868). 
Mr. L. Dunbar records one shot at Dunnet Sands — a 
young male — stuffed by him, and now in the possession 
of Mr. Trail, Castlehill, and a specimen is included in the 
Welbeck Abbey collection. Mr. Eeid mentions having 
obtained another specimen during the year they were so 
prevalent all over the kingdom (1879). 
