STERCORARIUS CATARRACTES. 
SKUA GULL. 
LAEUS CATARRACTES. Linn. Syst. Nat. Tol. I. (1776.) p. 226. 
LESTRIS CATARRACTES. Bon. Synop, (1826.) No. 304. 
STERCOR ARIUS CATARRACTES. Temm. Man. <TO.rn. Yol. II. (1820). p. 792.— Gray. Gen. of Birds. Yol. III. p. 653, sp. 5. 
LESTRIS ANTARCTICA. Less. Traite cTOrn. p. 616. 
Among the feathered wanderers of the sea, this species is one of the boldest, most powerful, and tyrannical. It is an inhabitant of 
the high latitudes of both hemispheres, passing the greater portion of its time upon the ocean, and is often met with a thousand miles 
from any land. Examples have been obtained upon the California coast, but I am not aware that it has ever been procured on our 
Eastern seaboard. It is to be met with in various parts of the world, is abundant along the coasts of Iceland, Norway, the Shetland 
Islands, and visits frequently the shores of Great Britain. Also South of the equators it is found at the Falkland Islands, about Cape 
Horn, Kirguellin’s Land in the Antarctic Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand, and the shores of Australia. 
The Skua breeds upon high clilfs, sometimes 1,300 feet above the sea, the nest frequently a mere cavity in the ground, though some- 
times a few weeds and grasses are collected together. The eggs are two to three in number, brown, spotted with reddish brown. 
During the season of incubation it permits neither man nor beast to approach in the vicinity of the nest, but attacks all in the boldest 
and most savage manner ; nor does it cease its onslaughts until the objects of its displeasure are driven away. The following account, 
given by Gould in the Birds of Great Britain, is related by the Rev. Air. Low, as occurring on the Island of Foula, westward of the 
Shetland Islands. “ As I approached the summits of the high mountains, I came near the Skua’s quarters, which are affixed on the very 
peaks. I no sooner drew near, than I was attacked with such great fury, that every one who was with me as well as myself, were 
obliged to do him obeisance at every stroke. He beat my dog entirely out of the pit, insomuch that he was obliged to run among our 
legs for shelter, and could not be forced out again ; for although Bonxie, as the bird is called, had some respect for us when we kept 
together, on him he had no mercy ; every whip he fetched him made his own wings crack, and the dog crouch into the hollows of the 
moor, until we came up and relieved him. I followed one of them some distance from the rest of my party, and received some rude 
salutes for my imprudence from three of these birds, which made at me with the utmost rage. I defended myself the best way I could 
with my gun; fired several times at them; but as none dropped, the report did not startle them in the least, but rather seemed to 
enrage them the more. When the inhabitants are looking after their sheep on the hills, the Skua often attacks them in such a 
manner that they are obliged to defend themselves with their cudgels held above their heads, on which it often kills itself.” 
The flight of the Skua is performed by heavy flappings of the wings, and at times is very swift. It feeds upon fish, which it 
obtains chiefly by watching the larger gulls, and as soon as it perceives that any of them has captured one of the finny tribe, 
immediately gives chase and compels the luckless bird to drop its prey, which the Skua usually succeeds in seizing before reaching the 
water. Carcases of animals, or offal of any description furnishes food for this bird, and at times it will even attack young lambs. 
The plate represents the species of the natural size, with a much reduced figure in the distance, giving chase to the Grey Sea Eagle 
(II. Albicilla), which had approached too near its breed ing-grmmds ; for although the Eagle is much larger and more powerful, yet it is 
compelled to yield to the impetuous attacks of this fearless bird. 
