48 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
masses so termed, as found in the horse, monkey, goat, gazelle, and other animals, 
and even in man himself. 
After some discussion, the ballot opened, at the conclusion of which the Chairman 
declared the following duly elected ordinary members :—Glascott Symes, Bonny- 
brook, Artane ; J. Nalty, Esq. M.D., Dublin ; Rev. Eugene O’Meara, Dublin. 
The meeting was then adjourned to the second Eriday in February. 
FEBRUARY 8, 1856. 
Charles P. Croker, Esq., M.D., M.R.I.A., in the Chair. 
The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and signed, 
Dr. Farran read the following paper 
ON THE GENUS SKUA. (LESTRHXE.) 
I am not so vain as to suppose I can add anything very new in the observations 
I am about to make on the very interesting and well-defined genus Lestris or Skua, 
which has been so very ably commented on by the most eminent ornithologists of 
the day, both by plates and description ; nevertheless, I think I would not be fulfil¬ 
ling my duty as a member of the Natural History Society, if possessing, as I do, the 
means of exhibiting in one view four out of five members of the European family, 
I neglected the opportunity—besides, three specimens possess the intrinsic interest 
of being the originals from which the late Mr. Thompson drew up his description of 
the species in his beautiful and interesting work on the birds of Ireland ; and I trust 
I shall be able to show presently that the remaining specimens are not void of 
interest. I anticipate this further advantage—of drawing the attention of those 
whose residence may be in the vicinity of the sea, or of those who occupy their 
business on the great waters, to the habits of this singular family. I have bestowed 
some attention on the modes of capturing the prey pursued in the several depart¬ 
ments of the animal kingdom, and I find that it is procured by direct assault or 
attack. Thus, the lion and all the feline tribe spring on their prey and devour it. 
The eagle and its congeners pounce on their victims—the gentle swallow captures 
its insect food directly, aided by the celerity of its flight and the rapidity of its evo¬ 
lutions—the spider, having entangled its prey in its web, darts on it and destroys 
it; in fact, throughout the course of nature it may be laid down that direct assault 
is the mode by which sustenance is obtained. But there is no rule without an ex¬ 
ception, and this genus may be cited as forming the exception. Its habits will ex¬ 
plain this more fully. It attends the gulls and terns, and quietly consorts with them, 
never attempting to injure them when reposing on the water; but no sooner do they 
perceive an individual has succeeded in taking a fish or any other variety of food, 
than it is immediately singled out by the attendant Skua, who most violently assails 
it, and, being of quicker and more powerful flight, soon overtakes the gull and com¬ 
pels it to eject the contents of its stomach, which is at once caught by the Skua before 
it reaches the water ; or, should there be more than one fish or morsel, he leisurely 
picks them up in the water, where he remains until another unfortunate gull is brought 
under his iron rule. It was this habit that suggested to Temminck the name of 
Lestris, robber or pirate, when he constituted the well-defined genus Lestris; and 
has also obtained for each member of the family the euphonious epithet of dirt-bird 
or dungeater. The genus Lestris consists of five species, and in giving a description 
of one, it will equally apply to all. They are arranged in the following order :— 
Lestris cataractes, the largest; Lestris pomarinus, next in size; Lestris Richard- 
sonii follows; then Lestris Buffonii , otherwise Lestris parasiticus , or Arctic skua ; 
and the list is completed by the Lestris described by Dr. Richardson under the name 
Stercnrarius cepphus , which has not as yet been found in England. The generic cha¬ 
racters, as given by Yarrell, run thus :—Bill strong, hard, cylindrical, compressed, 
curved, and hooked at the point ; bone of the upper mandible covered with a cere; 
nostrils situated towards the point of the beak, diagonal, narrow, closed behind, per¬ 
vious ; legs strong, naked above the tarsi, which are rather long ; three toes in front 
palmated, the hind toe small; claws large, strong, very much curved ; tail slightly 
rounded, the two middle feathers generally elongated, sometimes considerably; 
