TIIK ARCTIC OR RICHARDSON S SKUA. 
359 
Hawk was one of the Arctic Skuas. It would not let me get 
near, but flew off with its prey in its hill. The Golden Plover 
seems a large bird for it to prey upon, hut one day in June, on 
my chancing to put up from its nest a Golden IJover, which 
went tumbling along before me in its usual fashion, a Sliooi 
came sweejung down at it, just as a falcon might, passing so 
close to me that I could have touched it with the muzzle of my 
gun. I did not see the issue, being at the moment closely 
occupied in one of the most important quests of my whole Shet- 
land career — nothing less than the following up three Snowy 
Owls which were in sight at one time, and this in the month 
of June ! I had a thorough good study of them for two days. 
The impudence of two of these birds was once the cause of 
my losing an opportunity of getting a white-tailed Eagle, 
which they most impudently attacked, and teased into going 
away, though it did not condescend to take the smallest notice 
of them otherwise.^ I have seen a Shooi chasing the Halligarth 
Pigeons, though whether for mere mischief or with more serious 
intent, I cannot say. Leaving these, it drove up some Herring 
Gulls from the loch. On the whole, the Arctic Skua must be 
regarded as a very great nuisance by other birds, but, strange to 
say, its proximity causes no commotion, as when a Hawk is 
about. The Gulls do not appear to disturb themselves much 
for it, unless when singled out to pay tribute , — vacuus cantahit, 
no doubt ; it is only when laden with spoil that they come to 
trouble. Once I saw a rescue, though. An Arctic Skua was 
chasing a Common Gull at Uyea Sound and, on several of the 
latter species collecting with their characteristic readiness, was 
speedily driven off. 
These birds have a strange habit of sitting half buried in the 
heather, especially when the weather is damp and foggy. They 
* They cost me much more than this, one day in the summer of 1854, 
t)asing beyond the limits of its patience a fine Bernicle Goose which was 
waddling abont, apparently far from unwilling to become the first on record 
taken in the British Isles in the summer-time. The Shopies were a party of 
four, probably a family, which hunted in company for three weeks or more 
round the voe at Balta Sound. — E d. 
