ARCTIC SKUA.
dozen I'omatorliine ware observed. The Firth from Fidra to the Bass Hock was swarming wild Skuas, and
1 repeatedly noticed two or three pursuing one unfortunntn Kittiwuke; they often continued their
attacks for a long distance, driving the bird at times high into the air. 1 subsequently remarked that the
Skuas so persistently following the victims they had singled out were in iiumature plumage; probably
they were scarcely up to their business through want of experience, and possibly even tackled birds having no
food to disgorge. A Kiltiwake does not require to be hard-pressed in order to eject any recently taken prey,
nnd the screams the affrighted creatures gave vent to while assailed aud buffeted could never have been uttered
'• by throats distended with food ' . A squally morning on the Dili was succeeded by a fine afternoon; while
about a quarter of a mile south-west of the Bass, late io the evening, a thick of between forty and lifty Skuas
passed the boat, flapping slowly towards the west. The party were (lying close to the water and afforded an
excellent chance for careful inspection. Willi but a single exception, a small dark bird which proved to ho
an immature Hulfon's Skua, the whole number appeared adult Arctic, all, with two or three exceptions, still
retaining the long tail-feathers, the dark and light varieties being represented in about equal numbers. So
thickly were they making their way that the charge of shot which stopped the juvenile in their ranks (the only
specimen I was anxious to examine) brought down as well a couple of wbite-breasled and one dark adult in
perfect plumage. The presence of this small stranger in a flock composed entirely of Arctic Skuas, unaccompanied
by any of their own young, appears somewhat singular. After several exceedingly squally days,
during winch the greater part of the Skuas passing within sight of the shore were too distant to be idenlilicd, we
again got to sea on the Kith and found Skuas numerous up the firth. Between the islands of Fidra and Ebris
I obtained a couple showing a curious mottled and barred state of plumage, evidently the intermediate stages of
the black and white varieties. From the observations I was enabled to make concerning their various stages of
plumage while keeping I'omatorliine Skuas in confinement, it is probable that these birds were both in the third
year. It is, however, possible that the adults of ibis species also undergo certain changes after the breedingseason—
in which case it would be hard to say whether they were immature or adults iu winter plumage. A
fresh breeze from the north on the 17th ; the boats were hauling lines between Fidra aud the Lamb and, as usual,
several Skuas were seen; one bird only was obtained, a particularly dark specimen with long luil-lealliers,
in excellent condition. While ou our way back, halfway between Craig Leigh and the Lamb, we encountered
a large school of whales numbering at least a couple of hundred; several passed close to the boat, rolling and
diving, and apparently chasing one another lioth above and lielow the surface. I was on the point of trying a shot
with a heavy gun at the head of one of them, and the younger portion of the crew gathered round in the greatest
excitement to watch the effect. The two old hands were seated aft, apparently unconcerned, when Kelly, who
was steering, cast a glance at ihe waies as he shook from his arm the spray that bad broken over the quarter,
and quietly remarked, "The waiter's gay an' cauld the morn." Now Kelly and Mai-Lean were two aged
and wentherbenten salts, who had sailed for years in the Arctic whaling-fleet, and survived many a lussle with
the monsters of the deep in Halliu's Hay aud Davis Slrails. T doubled not they understood the manners and
customs of this unruly family, and that such an insult as a charge of shot would probably result in our craft
being smashed and the crew dispersed floundering iu the water. As Ihe tide was rushing out of the Firth
like a mill-race, aud there was not a sail within three or four miles, I soon came to the conclusion that
discretion was the wisest plan, and allowed the monster to roll on his way unmolested. Two or thn thers,
however, immediately after dashed imst us so closely ([dunging, in fact, in a playful manner right under the
boat), that 1 began to fancy we might be favoured with a passing whisk of their tails without having intentionally
offered the slightest in-ull. From t hi' I sh Skuas were seen daily, the Arctic being by far the most numerous ;
I'omatorliine usually observed thing high in the air, either due east or west. On the 2Sth, with a firsh southerly
Jiff I mil Huhlcsly oruused after feeding, they mdi'oiuiir to out up Ihe contents ut their atomMU.
ARCTIC SKL'A.
broom*, tailed up the Firth as far as Ahcrlady Hay; several Skuas met villi, but ouly a couple of specimens
procured, both immature Arctic birds of the year. The plumage exhibited a warm brown tinge mottled with
black. The legs and feet were a dull black marked with a pale bluish-white line down the tarsi from bclow
I he knee, and extending about a quarter dow u the webs. Several Skua • seen daily along the const till the cud
of the month. During a terrible gale of wind from the south-west, which continued for several days from
the 2nd of Octolwr, immense numbers of (hills and Skuas were visible in the bay. On the 7th and 8th the
weather moderated, and wo succeeded in getting out to sea; a few mile- off the land, from Fidra lo halfway
between the Ikiss and the Isle of May, Skuas were plentiful, Ibllowiug in the wake of ihe large flocks of
Kittiwakcs. Immature Arctic Skuas were now arriving in the Firth, the first-comers having been maiuly
oomposod of adults.
According to my own observations, Arctic Skuas reach our north-cast coast in the autumn, considerably in
advance of i'omatorhioe, and for the most part move southward at an earlier date. When out iu the North Sen
off Yarmouth,in company with the herring-licet, throughout the biter part of October and November 1S72, and
again in ls>711, I'onialorhine Skuas were constantly seen, scores or even hundreds being occasionally fallen in n ilh
iu the course of a day, though not more than a dozen Arctic were recognized during the whole of cither season.
The Arctic Skua, according to my experience, is seldom, if ever, seen iu pursuit of sen-fowls larger than
Commou (lulls, Kittiwakcs, or Terns But few instances where remarked w here the former s|iecies has been
molested at sea, the unfortunate Kiltiwake being far more beatify luxed iu order lo eonlribute to the support
of these rapacious thieves. While in their summer quarters on the moors they not uufrcqiicnlly harass their
neighbours ;is well as auy feathered stranger approaching their haunts; under such circuinslanees their noisy
ni tacks arc not commenced with a view of procuring food.
Judging from the \ arious -luges of plumage exhibited by lids -peeii s. it is probable thai tin' perfect adult dress
is not assumed before the fifth or possibly even the sixth year. Never having kept these Skuas iu confinement,
I do not feel justified in offering any decided opinion ou the subject; it must, however, be allowed that there is no
rule as to the colouring of the sexes. The dark and light varieties were without difficulty to be traced in many
specimens 1 examined during the immature stages, the tints in even the first feathers of the young indicating,
in sonic instances at least, their future i-olour. The distinction between the dark and light varieties in the
earlier stages of this species is by no means so conspicuous as iu ihe Fomalorhinc Skua. Iu the same
manneraatheir larger relatives, numbers of these birds iu adult dress are seen during autumn without the
long tail-feathers. 1 also remarked this fact in a few specimen* exhibiting mature plumage procured in the
Channel when on their way to the north in the spring. 1 cauuot call to mind a single instance of observing
birds on the moors iu the north during the summer without these feathers.
As to the winter dress of the adult Arctic Skua, there is doubtless much to be learned. It is, 1 consider,
quite possible that specimens met wilh late iu autumn, and considered immature, may be adults undergoiag
the change to winter plumage. It would be interesting to ascertain the length of time that the light blue
marking on the tnrsi aud webs is retained; it would then he more easy to form an opinion.
The majority of the fishing-population with whom I have conversed appear to recognize no distinction
between the various s|<eeies of Skuas frequenting our coasts, tin- whole family being apparently known by the
titles mentioned under the heading of the I'onintorhine. It is possible the birds may occasionally be referred
to as large or small, but no further difference is recognized. One or two masters of smacks or fishing-lugger*
(old gunners who still take an interest in wildfowl and all feathered strangers) have at times, however, rendered
me great assistance by staling the fishing-grounds on which birds in some peculiar stage of plumage were to
lie found. Acting on their information, 1 have aura than once steamed twenty or thirty miles lo some distant
bank in the North Sea; aud within a few miles of their reckoning, the objects of our scorch were invariably