loo Hr Fleming on the Arctic and Skua Gulls. 
The common Skua is gregarious during the breeding season. 
It lays two eggs of a muddy green colour,, marked with irre- 
gular brown spots, and intermixed with smaller white spots. 
The nest is carelessly constructed of a few dried weeds, and is 
found in unfrequented moors. It breeds in the Zetland islands, 
where we have observed it, as in Foulali and Unst, and on 
Honan's Hill in Mainland. 
When the purposes of incubation have been accomplished, it 
retires from its summer haunts, and leads a solitary life on the 
ocean. It is found in our seas at all seasons. It is rare in the 
southern parts of the kingdom^^ ; and even about the Zetland 
islands, it is by no means a common bird. It likewise inhabits 
the Ferroe Isles, Iceland, and Norway. It is found in the 
southern latitudes, having been observed about the Falkland 
Isles, and termed by our circumnavigators Port Egmont Hen. 
The common Skua obtains a great share of its food by pur- 
suing the larger kinds of gulls, and compelling them to dis- 
gorge the fish which the_y have obtained. 
During the breeding season, this bird is remarkably active 
in defending its young. It descends through the air in an ob- 
lique direction with amazing velocity, towards any person who 
ventures to go near its haunts. It seldom, however, inflicts a 
stroke, generally approaching within a foot or two, when it rises 
rapidly and flies off about a hundred yards, to return in a 
straight line with equal impetuosity as before. On dogs it 
inflicts very heavy strokes with its wings, and generally com- 
pels them to seek the protection of their masters.. The inhabi- 
tants of the Ferroe Isles destroy them with spears or sharp 
knives held erect over their heads, on which these birds trans- 
fix themselves. 
The Skua likewise attacks the eagle witb success, and drives 
him to a distance from its haunts. On this account he is a 
great favourite with the shepherd ; and the Zetland fishermen, 
when they meet him at sea, always throw overboard some fish 
for his use, the reward for his services as the guardian of their 
flocks. His robust form, and hooked bill and claws, have in- 
duced some naturalists to suppose that he likewise devoured 
* We have in our possession a specimen of the Skua Gull, killed in the Sol- 
way Frith. — En, 
