PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
49 
wings moderate, the first quill feather the longest. To this may be added an indo¬ 
mitable and fierce courage, which gives them the complete mastery over the gulls 
and terns. They inhabit the higher degrees of latitude in both hemispheres, where 
they are more common than in the warm or temperate parts of the globe. It is 
unnecessary on this occasion to go more minutely into description ; I shall detail the 
following incidents, which I witnessed, and which will exhibit the habits and instinct 
of Lestris cataractes :—In the middle of September, some five or six years ago, 
when examining the lofty cliffs in the vicinity of Stradbally, county Waterford, the 
day being remarkably fine and warm, not a breath of wind stirring, the sea like a 
sheet of glass, my attention was drawn to an immense flock of the herring gull 
floating on the smooth water ; their shadows reflected so as to deceive the eye, 
making each bird appear double. This flock was an object of great interest to a 
number of fishermen, who mentioned to me that the gulls appearing in that 
manner indicated the advent either of the herring or the sprat. Such a perfect pic¬ 
ture of repose I have seldom witnessed, and I was about to pursue my ramble, when 
suddenly the entire flock of gulls rose with a confused sound of screeching and 
screaming which literally filled the air with a noise it would be impossible to describe. 
To this was added a rapid whirling and turning, which strongly reminded me 
of a swarm of bees when emerging from the hive. The men at once observed that 
the fish had arrived, and immediately left to prepare their nets. However, on 
gazing some time longer on the evolutions of the birds, I distinctly saw a large dark 
bird pursuing a gull, which it hunted through the mazes of the screaming flock with 
as much pertinacity and skill as a well-trained hound would follow its game, but all 
to no purpose. Presently the gull separated from the flock and made towards the 
spot I was standing on; but its relentless pursuer was not to be baffled; increasing 
its speed and making a quick and sharp turn, it struck the gull fiercely and pulled 
out a quantity of feathers; on the moment the gull ejected two or three small fish, 
which the Skua at once caught. The gull then winged its way back to the flock, 
the Skua quietly following, and soon both were again reposing as quietly as before, 
the entire flock settling down as if nothing had happened. On another occasion 
(the beginning of last year), during a severe gale, I went down to Kingstown to see 
the effect of the very heavy sea which broke over the eastern pier. A large flock of 
gulls had congregated immediately next the pier, where it strikes into the sea from 
the shore. The gulls were busily engaged in the capture of the fry of the conger 
eel, which had been disturbed by the violence of the waves from their hiding places. 
The fry appeared to be very plentiful, and were about twelve inches in length. 
However busy the poor gulls were there was an attendant on them (Skua cataractes) 
far more industrious; for no sooner had he perceived that a gull had taken an eel 
than he was immediately attacked and compelled to relinquish his game ; and, how¬ 
ever it might be regretted that the legitimate captor was deprived of his prey, still 
there was an ample recompense in viewing the graceful manner of the Skua when 
taking the fallen fish from the crest of the wave. This bird is a great favourite in 
the higher latitudes, being hailed with delight by the inhabitants of the Shetland 
Islands as being the forerunner of the advent of fish, and being the protector of their 
lambs from the eagle, which bird they attack with surprising courage whenever 
they approach their breeding grounds, and drive them off. I now draw your atten¬ 
tion to the Pomarine Skua (Lestris pomarinus), which is noticed by Mr. Thompson 
“ as of occasional occurrence in autumn and winter on various parts of the coast of 
Ireland—it is next in size to the cataractes, partakes in the general habits of it and 
the other species of the genus preferring a life of plunder to one of independent 
industry.. There is but one record of the bird being obtained in adult plumage, and 
that was in Ireland. It was the first in this plumage noticed within the British 
Isles; neither does it breed in the British Isles. The name of Skua is considered 
to have been adopted from the note of this bird, which sounds like “ skui.’’ Bewick 
appears not to have been acquainted with this bird, as he does not notice it in his 
work. Altogether it is the rarest of the Skuas which visit our coasts. Richard¬ 
son’s Skua (Lestris Richardsonii) next occupies our attention. It is noticed by Mr. 
Thompson 11 as occasionally procured on the coastand the specimen before you, 
shot at Malahjde on the 27th September, 1837, is the bird from which Mr. Thomp¬ 
son drew up his description. The bird appears to me to be in immature plumage 
