ARCTIC SKUA. 
270 
An Orkney specimen of this bird, but we do not 
know at what season obtained, has the crown, hack, 
wings and tail very deep greyish clove-brown, the 
under parts greyish brown, the sides of the neck 
glistening sienna-yellow, but not so bright as when 
killed at breeding season ; the centre-feathers ex- 
ceed the others by three inches. 
Before passing from these' remarkable gulls, we 
may observe, that it is generally stated that they 
derive then- whole food from their pursuit of other 
birds, using what they are made to disgorge. In 
the somewhat analogous case of the fish-hawks, we 
know this is practised ; but, at the same time, these 
birds can and do forage for themselycs, and we 
would almost be inclined to believe that the Skuas 
are not quite dependent on tho work of others, 
but occasionally seek food for themselves, and that 
the large species will feed on carrion thrown upon 
the coast. We acknowledge that wo have never 
seen these birds employed for themselves, but woidd 
wish a little more attention was paid to this part 
of their economy by those w T ho have the oppor- 
tunities. 
The next group of birds we shall notice, though 
not immediately connected with the Skuas, is the 
Terns, contrasting with them in the delicacy of their 
plumage and the slight, airy, and elegant proportions 
of their form; they lead us directly to the True 
Gulls by means of the intermediate form represented 
