AKCTIC SKUA. 
dozen Pomatorliine were observed. The Pirtli from Fidra to the Bass Bock was swarming with Skuas, and 
I repeatedly noticed two or three pursuing one unfortunate Kittiwake ; they often continued their 
attacks for a long distance, driving the bird at times high into the air. I subsequently remarked that the 
Skuas so persistently following the victims they had singled out were in immature plumage : probably 
they w’ere scarcely up to their business through want of experience, and possibly even tackled birds having no 
food to disgorge. A Kittiwake does not require to be hard-pressed in order to eject any recently taken prey, 
and the screams the affrighted creatures gave vent to while assailed and buffeted could never have been uttered 
by throats distended with food *. A squally morning on the 9th w^as succeeded by a fine afternoon; while 
about a quarter of a mile south-w^est of the Bass, late in the evening, a flock of betw^een forty and fifty Skuas 
passed the boat, flapping slowdy towards the west. The party were flying close to the water and afforded an 
excellent chance for careful inspection. With but a single exception, a small dark bird which proved to be 
an immature Buffon’s Skua, the Avhole number appeared adult Arctic, all, with twm or three exceptions, still 
retaining the long tail-feathers, the dark and light varieties being represented in about equal numbers. So 
thickly Avere they making their AA^ay that the charge of shot AAdiich stopped the juvenile in their ranks (the only 
specimen I Avas anxious to examine) brought doAvn as Avell a couple of w'hite-breasted and one dark adult in 
perfect plumage. The presence of this small stranger in a flock composed entirely of Arctic Skuas, unac- 
companied by any of their OAvn young, appears somewhat singular. After several exceedingly squally days, 
during Avhicli the greater part of the Skuas passing Avithin sight of the shore AA^ere too distant to be identified, aa^c 
again got to sea on the IGtli and found Skuas numerous up the Firth. Between the islands of Fidra and Ebris 
I obtained a couple shoAving a curious mottled and barred state of plumage, evidently the intermediate stages of 
the black and Avhite varieties. From the observations I Avas enabled to make concerning their various stages of 
plumage Avhile keeping Pomatorliine Skuas in confinement, it is probable that these birds Avere both in the third 
year. It is, hoAvever, possible that the adults of this species also undergo certain changes after the breeding- 
season — in Avhich case it Avould be hard to say Avhether they Avere immature or adults in winter plumage. A 
fresh breeze from the north on the 17th ; the boats Avere hauling lines between Fidra and the Lamb and, as usual, 
several Skuas Avere seen ; one bird only was obtained, a particularly dark specimen wfltli long tail-feathers, 
in excellent condition. While on our Avay back, halfway betAveen Craig Leigh and the Lamb, Ave encountered 
a large school of Avhales numbering at least a couple of hundred ; several passed close to the boat, rolling and 
diving, and apparently chasing one another both above and beloAV the surface. I was on the point of trying a shot 
Avith a heavy gun at the head of one of them, and the younger portion of the crew gathered round in the greatest 
excitement to Avatch the effect. The two old hands Avere seated aft, apparently unconcerned, Avhen Kelly, Avho 
Avas steering, cast a glance at the AvaA^es as he shook from his arm the spray that had broken over the quarter, 
and quietly remarked, “ The AA'atter ’s gay an’ cauld the morn.” Noav Kelly and MacLean Avere two aged 
and Aveatherbeaten salts, Avho had sailed for years in the Arctic whaling-fleet, and survived many a tussle Avith 
the monsters of the deep in Baflin’s Bay and Davis Straits. I doubted not they understood the manners and 
customs of this unruly family, and that such an insult as a charge of shot Avould probably result in our craft 
being smashed and the crew dispersed floundering in the Avater. As the tide Avas rushing out of the Firth 
like a mill-race, and there Avas not a sail Avithin three or four miles, I soon came to the conclusion that 
discretion Avas the Avisest plan, and alloAved the monster to roll on his way unmolested. Two or three others, 
however, immediately after dashed past us so closely (plunging, in fact, in a playful manner right under the 
boat), that I began to fancy we might be favoured Avith a passing Avhisk of their tails Avithout having intentionally 
offered the slightest insult. From the 18th Skuas AA'ere seen daily, the Arctic being by far the most numerous ; 
Pomatorliine usually observed flying high in the air, either due east or AA'est. On the 28th, Avith a fresh southerly 
* Having kept various kinds of (Julls in confinement for years, I have luid constant opportunities of studying their habits: when terrified or 
even suddenly aroused after feeding, they endeavour to cast up the contents of their stomachs. 
