2 LONG-TAILED 8KTJ \
surface, thai rising again, repeated (In- performance aftat a short interval, It was evident that the Kltti wakes
did mil appreciate their soriety, mailing rapidly off when approached, thongfa no attack wai offered; it
length some fen or • dozen Terns Happed quietly down the firth, when, with a sharp and piercing cry, tinpirates
n-ere off in pursuit ; I failed, however, to ascertain the result, owing to the count less numbers of
sea-fowl sweeping around. The two Skuas were shortly after seen again near the rock hunting over the same
course, licing eventually lost sight of while working along the const towards the east.
After continued rough •feather for several days in November 1870, I received won! that a small party
of Skuas were sheltering on the water below the West Pier at Brighton ; on reaching the spot and putting
otf in a boat, I discovered that the majority had already taken their departure, but one bint (which proved
exceedingly unsuspicious of danger) remaining. Its plumage having been carefully examined through the
glasses, the specimen was procured without Hie slightest difficulty, the bird being evidently rendered almost
helpless by the protracted gales. It is by no means an Uncommon occurrence for Skuas to resorl to the smooth
water in the vicinity of the pier during storms in autumn ; as many as ten or a dozen may occasionally be
seen, at times much distressed by the severity of the weather, but rapidly pulling round as the wind drops.
On the 17th of May, 1872 (a strong breeze from the north-east with stpialls of rain), I noticed early in
the morning a pair of immature birds, in very dark plumage, living round the Wits brought up otr the
fish-market at Brighton; the pair ap|ienrod perfectly fearless, but succeeded in keeping out of range.
Towards evening tin- bird- (or a similar pair) were met « itb a short distance at sea otf Shoreham and again
escaped. I remarked that these Skuas hovered over the refu-e floating along the shore and round the fishingcraft
moored oil the tow u. evidently searching for food themselves, no attention being paid to the movements of
several Common Gulls engaged in a similar manner.
A young bird of the year was shot near the Bass Rock on the 'Jth of September, 1871. This specimen
was In company with forty or fifty adult Arctic Skuas; the whole party flapping close past the boat, ample
opportunities were afforded for examining them satisfactorily. Though a sharp look-out was kept during
the succeeding week, not another bird of this specie- wa- recognized either in the ijrth or lor several miles at
sea. I am inclined to believe, from the numbers of specimens brought in by fishermen from the di-tant banks
in the North Sea, that the usual course of this spcries, w bile on their way south at the time of the autumnal
migration, lies considerably to the east of the British Islauds.
But little change appears to he exhibited by young birds in the spring of their second year. In May
1875, while at sea in the Channel a few miles off Shoreham, n pair in immature plumage hovered for some
time round the boat ; and both, 1 was perfectly convinced, corresponded precisely with young obtained in
their first autumn. These interesting juveniles proved exceedingly tame; on throwing out small portions
of fish-liver, they dipped down to the surface of the water and seized the pieces within the distance of three
or four yards. The slate-blue markings on their feet and legs being clearly seen and noted down while they
suept round the boat, rendered it unnecessary to obtain a single specimen. S.> confiding did they eventually
become after remaining for an hour or two in our company, that on offering a supply of fish-liver on the
blade of an oar, both birds paddled up and seizing the pieces one by one, swallowed them without exhibiting
the slightest signs of alarm.
The autumn gales of ls79 forced thousands of Skuas out of their usual course, immense numbers Iteing
blown ashore in a disabled condition along the east coast. Several of this species were procured by the
fishermen and shore-shooters, in both adult and immature plumage; two specimens, however, were all (hat
came uuder my observation. During the last week in October I noticed a young bird of the year passing
along the shore near the harbour-mouth at Yarmouth, and a few days later another of the same age was met
with at sea a short distance otf Caistcr, This poor traveller was so worn out by the protracted bullolingof
the late storms that I was in hopes of effecting a capture in order to rear it in confinement and note
LONG-TAILED SKUA.
the changes of plumage. When first seen it was on wing, skimming before a fresh northerly breeze in a line.
With the coast; at ienglh it turned head to wind nnd, after circling round for a few moments, settled on the
water; then drifting with the tide through one of the " swash ways " • we were enabled to steam ahead and
await its approach. The heavy swell rendering the launching of a boat a work of time, we were forced to make
use of tbe"deidle," when, just as the bird was earned within reach, a breaking sea cast it under the paddlewheels,
and a few moments later its UfelesB body was discerned from the bridge washing over the sands.
The immature bird figured in the Plate was shot on September 9, 1871, near the Bass Rock. The
specimen exhibiting a mixed plumage, after having been almost driven ashore under the West, Pier at Brighton,
was procured a short distance at sea in November 1870 ; it appears doubtful whether Ibis bird shows one of
the intermediate stages, or is an adult undergoing the transformation into winter plumage. Prom observations
made respecting the changes of other species of Skuas while in confinement, I am of opinion that the latter is
most probably the case.