THE SKUA GULL. 
175 
THE SKUA GULL. ( Lestris catarractes .) 
This daring Jager, or feathered pirate of the ocean 
(says Nuttall) has spread its dominion to the extremes of 
both hemispheres, dwelling chiefly on the hyperboreal or 
antarctic seas. It is found in the Hebrides, Orkney, Shet- 
land, and Faroe Islands, as well as in Norway and Iceland. 
In America, it is found in the high northern regions ; then 
again in many parts of the Pacific, at Port Egmont, in the 
Falkland Islands (hence called Port Egmont Hens.) In 
the latter end of December, their breeding season in that 
hemisphere, at Christmas Sound, in Terra del Fuego, they 
were found in great plenty, making their nests in the dry 
grass. They are also seen to the east of New Zealand. 
Such is the extensive geographic range of this species, 
according to Pennant and others, at the same time, we may 
fairly doubt the identity of the northern and southern birds, 
since they are but rarely seen on their passage any great 
distance towards the south. Off the coast of Newfoundland, 
probably this species is seen in June, widely exploring the 
ocean, and in the depth of winter they migrate into the 
bays along the coast of Massachusetts, but I believe they 
are nearly unknown as far south as the coast of New 
Jersey. 
As the supposed identic species of the two hemispheres 
appear therefore never to meet in their range to warmer 
