208 
British Birds. 
the coasts of Norway, but at a considerable distance out at sea. The nest is of turf or 
sea-weed and generally placed on the ledge of a cliff, but sometimes on the top of a 
rocky islet, and in America the birds are occasionally found not making any nest at 
all. The eggs vary considerably in ground-colour, from the ordinary Gull-like type 
to white or bluish, with dark spots and markings. The length is about two inches 
and a quarter. 
Richardson’s Skua. The Great Skua. 
THE 
GREAT SKUA. 
(Mcgalcstris 
catarrhactcs.) 
The Skuas are Gulls of sombre coloration, and they are 
distinguished from the true Larida by having a ‘ cere ’ at the 
base of the bill, as in a Bird of Prey, while the claws are 
extremely sharp and curved, and resemble those of the last-named 
birds. This is a larger bird than any of the other Skuas 
which occur in Great Britain, and has a square tail instead of prolonged 
central tail-feathers. 
Though formerly not so rare, the Great Skua has become almost extinct in 
Britain, and only two colonies now exist within our limits. These are in the 
Shetlands, where the birds are protected, so that we may hope that the species 
will still survive as an indigenous British bird. It also breeds on the Faeroes and 
in Iceland, and is occasionally found in winter as far south as the Mediterranean, 
but it is everywhere becoming a scarce bird, owing to the persecution which follows 
it on account of its predatory habits. It is very bold and fearless, defending its 
eggs and young with vigour. The nest is a hollow in the moss, and the eggs, which are 
never more than two in number, are dark chocolate or olive-brown, with reddish 
brown or black spots. Length from two-inches-and-a-half to nearly three inches. 
