Arctic Skua.
Larus parasiticus, Linn. Syst. Nat., ed, 12, tom. i. p. 226.
Cattaractes parasita, Pall. Zoogr. Ross.-Asiat., tom. ii. p. 310.
Lestris parasiticus, 111. Prod. Syst. Mamm. et Av., p. 273.
Stercorarius parasiticus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 663, Stercorarius, sp. 1.
Lestris Richardsonii, Swains. Faun. Bor.-Amer., vol. ii. p. 433.
Stercorarius richardsonii, Coues, Proc. Acad. Sci. Philad. 1863, pp. 121, 135.
Lestris thuliaca, Preyer, Reise nach Island, p. 418.
Richardson’s Skua of British Ornithologists.
No species of the genus is subject to greater changes o f plumage than the present bird, and none exhibits
a greater diversity in its colouring. The uniformly-coloured figure in the ‘Fauna Boreali-Americana’
represents the bird in a somewhat abnormal dress; for, although dark varieties occasionally occur among
the specimens shot in the British Islands, few are so uniform in their colouring. Swainson, not being
aware of the variations to which the bird is subject, regarded the specimens under his notice as pertaining
to a distinct species, and under this impression named them Lestris Richardsonii, in honour o f Dr.
Richardsou; but, as we now know he was in error in so doing, we are compelled by the law o f priority to
deprive the bird o f the honour o f bearing the name of that distinguished traveller and scientific naturalist.
Although the seas o f the northern hemisphere are inhabited by every species o f this form, I have but
little doubt of the present bird being the one most generally distributed, the regions of the Arctic circle
in both the Old and the New World being tenanted by it. From these parts of the northern hemisphere
its. range extends over Europe and America, the British islands being perhaps the most southern country in
which it breeds. It is abundant in Baffin’s Bay, Greenland, Icelaud, and Norway, and a few years ago
was scarcely less numerous in the Shetland, the Orkney, and Faroe Islands; in the former they annually
bred, but they are now far less numerous than formerly. During tempestuous weather and seasons of
extreme cold, it proceeds to the southward; and the young, wandering further than the adults, occasionally
resort to the coasts of Portugal, Spain, and the Mediterranean. Still it is strictly a bird o f the north, the
greater number remaining in those countries during the months o f summer, ever chasing the Gull and the
Sea-Swallow, and tyrannizing over all-, the other birds they can master.
“ In autumn,” says Macgillivray, “ when the fry o f the coal-fish swarm along the shores, and shoals of the
sand-eel sport in the waters, vast numbers o f Gulls, Sea-Mews, and Terns frequent the sandy coast. Here
on this beach let us seat ourselves, and take note of the occurrences, the time being the end o f August.
The wavelets chase each other in undulating lines, the sunbeams glitter on the smooth surface of the sea,
and the gentle breeze tempers the heat o f noontide. The sea-birds are on wing, wheeling and hovering all
around, vociferous in their enjoyment,—their screams mingling into one harsh noise. Every now and then
a Tern dips into the water, and emerges with a little fish in its bill, which it swallows without alighting.
In the midst of all this bustle and merriment, there comes gliding from afar, with swift and steady motion,
a dark and resolute-looking .bird, which, as it cleaves a path for itself among the White Terns, seems a
messenger o f death. A few minutes ago he was but a dim speck on the horizon, or at least some miles
away; and now he is in the very midst o f them, has singled out his victim, and is pursuing it. The latter,
light and agile, attempts to evade the aggressor, mounts, descends, sweeps aside, glides off in a curve,
turns, doubles, and shoots away, screaming incessantly the while. The Sea-Hawk follows the frightened
bird in all its motions, which its superior agility enables it to do with apparent ease. At length the Tern,
finding escape hopeless, and perhaps terrified by the imminence of its danger, disgorges part o f the contents
o f its gullet, probably with a view o f lightening itself. The pursuer, with all his seeming ferocity, had no
designs upon the life of the poor Tern ; and now his object is evident, for he plunges after the falling fish,
catches it in its descent, and presently flies off to attack another bird. In this way the marauder makes
his rounds, exacting tribute from all who he thinks are capable o f paying it, and not sturdy enough to resist
oppression. The teaser never fishes for himself on such occasions, although his organization seems to fit
him for aquatic rapine even more than that o f the Tern or Gull. When satisfied with food, he retires to
the distant bosom o f the deep, or to some inlet or unfrequented part o f the sand; but his awakening
appetite soon forces him to return, and, for hours together, he may be seen on wing, singling out a bird
here and there, and pursuing it, or gliding swiftly, as if on urgent business, from one group to another.
The pirate sweeps rapidly along on extended wings, which are considerably curved like those of the Gulls
and Terns, the latter o f which it resembles in its mode o f flight, although it moves more directly, with