ARCTIC SKUA. 
3 
The earliest entry referring to these birds is under date of August 11th to 13th. Hind dining these 
days exceedingly squally and from all quarters. Two or three small parties, all apparently Arctic Skuas, 
flying slowly head to wind, were noticed halfway between the Bass and the land. On the 19th, 
fine with light west wind, several Skuas passed the boat a few miles outside the Bass ; the distance, however, 
was almost too great to judge accurately as to the species, although I was able to detect some Bomatorhine. A 
couple of days later, witli the wind cast. Skuas of both species were busy round the boat while shooting long- 
lines. The 22nd was stormy, with a strong breeze from the west; starting early from Canty Bay, ue sailed 
alongshore halfway to Dunbar ; but though thousands of Gulls were resting along the rocks, only two Arctic 
Skuas were seen. In the afternoon, while hauling the long-lino, which a few heavy congers had succeeded in 
entangling among the rocks in such inextricable confusion that it had to be cut four times and grappled ere the 
whole was recovered, numbers of Gulls gatbered round the boat, and in pursuit of these came seveial 
Arctic Skuas, most of them being dark with long tails. Dead Kittiwakes, I soon learned, were exceedingly 
useful as decoys; a few flung up in the air would usually draw any passing Skuas; it wms then possible to 
examine their plumage, and with but little trouble any desirable specimen could be procured. While fishing 
alongshore on the 25th, Skuas, principally Arctic, were passing cast and west in pursuit of Gulls. Dor 
several days, commencing on the 2Gth, we joined the fleet of boats that sail from North Berwick, shooting 
their long-lines either between Fidra and the Bass or other parts of the lirtli, according to the wind. The 
lines are hauled shortly after daybreak ; and as soon as the operation commences, Kittiwakes collect in hundreds 
round the boats. The smaller baddies and wdiiting, being of no value for the market, are usually dashed by the 
fishermen against the side of the boat in order to free them from the hook, and in this mannei save tiouble 
previous to coiling the line. The hungry Gulls, evidently w^ell acquainted with the whole of the proceeding, 
meanwdiile hover round within a few" yards, and whenever a diminutive fish emerges from the water, at oncediaw" 
nearer, and darting down secure their prey before it reaches the waves, snatching many w ithin a foot of the 
boats. A short distance outside this busy throng the Skuas are eagerly awaiting their share. No sooner does 
a Kittiwake, after having secured a fish or two, attempt to make off, than it is assailed and forced to disgorge its 
meal. So ravenous arc these pirates that tw"o or three may often he seen in pursuit of one unfoitunate Gull. I 
remarked that Skuas would not commence an attack on the victim they had singled out while he ivas on the w-ater. 
A Kittiw'ake that had evidently fared sumptuously, and wms either too full or too frightened to rise, attracted 
my attention by his endeavours to avoid three Arctic Skuas swimming round and frustrating eveiy attempt at 
escape. "Vyiiichever wmy the poor bird turned he was invariably headed, though his persecutors neither molested 
him in the slightest degree nor even appoached wdthin tbc distance of two or three feet. IIow this evidently 
well-planned conspiracy would have terminated I had no opportunity of learning, as a number of ficsh Skuas 
arriving round one of the other boats, I was forced to taxe an unfair advantage and tuin over these hiids by a 
sitting shot, a couple of them being in a state of plumage I was anxious to examine. Ihough the fiist-comeis 
that made their appearance along the coast vv'ere all in adult breeding-dress, there v^ere by this time several 
exhibiting a mixed state of plumage ; no young of the year had, howev^er, as yet put in an appearance. But 
few Skuas showed themselves round the boats on the 28th; two or three Pomatorhincs were, how^evei, shot, as 
well as a couple of especially hlack-plumaged Arctic. These tw’O birds, I ascertained, VA'cre male and female ; 
and it certainly appears that there is no rule as to the colouring of the sexes. On the 29th the smaller Skuas 
were again numerous, though Bomatorhine were noticed at a distance, nearly all flying w'est at a considerable 
height. One very small white-breasted Arctic Skua, a male, was shot ; the plumage was perfect, but the 
long tail-feathers were missing. Another w"ell-markcd specimen, a white-breasted bird with long tail-feathers, 
proved to be a female. Constant squalls of rain and w'ind from the 31st to September 5th, several Skuas of 
both species being seen alongshore. The w’eather w"as fine and still on the 8th, and soon after daybreak w'c were 
again out with the boats hauling long-lines ; Arctic Skuas appeared in great numbers, though not above half a 
