File:The birds of the British Isles and their eggs (1920) (14746581731).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritish00cowa (find matches)
Title: The birds of the British Isles and their eggs
Year: 1920 (1920s)
Authors: Coward, T. A. (Thomas Alfred), 1867-1933
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Eggs Great Britain
Publisher: London New York : F. Warne
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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BlacK Tern on nest. ^ ^--:>1- RICHARDSONS OR ARCTIC SKUA. 257 inches beyond the others. It is smaller than the Pomatorhine,which has the elongated feathers rounded, and larger thanBuffons, which has very much longer streamers. Immaturebirds, before the tails have lengthened, are very puzzling,especially when in flight, but in the hand one character usuallyholds good—the shafts of the primaries. Saunders points outthat in the Arctic all the primaries have white shafts, but inBuffons only the first two, those of the inner primaries beingdusky ; after examining a number of skins I am inclined toagree with his American critics that this rule has exceptions,and that the distinction between white and dusky is at timesfine. On the wing the Arctic Skua is graceful, its flight beingsteady and regular, varied with hawk-like glides, but whenchasing a gull, tern, or diving bird, for it victimises theGuillemot and Puffln, it is erratic, swift, and powerful. Whenthe hunted bird throws up food,

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