File:Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs (1842) (14752545161).jpg

Identifier: colouredillustra71meye (find matches)
Title: Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs
Year: 1842 (1840s)
Authors: Meyer, H. L. (Henry Leonard), d. 1864 Meyer, H. L. (Henry Leonard), d. 1864. Illustrations of British birds Rutter, Daniel, former owner. DSI Rolle, Mark, former owner. DSI S. & J. Bentley, Wilson & Fley, printer S. & J. Bentley and Henry Fley, printer
Subjects: Birds Birds Birds Taxidermists Birds
Publisher: London : G.W. Nickisson
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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quarter inches. The entire length of the Lesser Black-backed Gull istwenty-four inches ; the wing measures seventeen inches. 166 LARIDE. NATATORES. LAR1DJE. PLATE CCCXII. COMMON SKUA. LESTRIS CATARACTES. The Common Skua is a constant inhabitant of the He-brides and Orkney Islands, and during very stormy weathermakes its appearance on our English shores, as well as on thecoast of Holland. This species extends northward from us to the Arcticregions, inhabiting the coast of Norway, the Shetland andFeroe islands and Iceland ; in which parts it breeds ingreat numbers. It occurs also periodically on the Irishcoast, as well as on the Scottish coast and lochs. In America this bird is of frequent occurrence, in Green-land, Labrador, Hudsons Bay, and Newfoundland; andfound periodically half way down the shores of the UnitedStates. We have further to observe that the Common Skua isnot solely confined to the northern pole of our earth, butis equally numerous near the South Pole, having been found
Text Appearing After Image:
COMMON SKUA. 167 on the shores of the Falkland Islands, in the straits ofMagellan, and in Terra del Fuego ; it is also an inhabitantof the distant and unfrequented islands of New SouthGeorgia and KirguellhTs land, in the Antarctic ocean, dis-covered by Captain Cook. The Common Skua is a regular inhabitant of the open sea,and extends northward from the South Pole as far as theCape of Good Hope. The breeding-localities chosen by this bird are moun-tains or heathy moors that are unfrequented by all othercreatures, with the exception of birds, and those are prin-cipally sea-fowl. At the approach of spring, numbers congregate inthese parts, but as soon as the breeding-time hasended, these individuals go each their own way, andlive either in pairs, or by themselves in a solitarymanner, till the following year reminds them of theirduty. While the breeding-season lasts, this Skua is exceed-ingly ferocious, for every intruder, whether man, bird,or beast, is attacked by it, and driven from the

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