. Wild nature's ways . ther molestation. If the harriedbird should attempt to seek safety by alightingon the water, its unrelenting oppressor quicklydisconcerts it by a series of tremendous down-ward swoops, which generally have the desiredeffect of inducing the wretched sea-mew to takewing again. My friend j\Irs. Jessie Saxby hasseen an enraged skua even strike and kill anobstinate gull that would not relinquish its catchof fish. The illustration of an Arctic skua appearingon the opposite page cost me a good deal oftrouble and a horse and trap the journeying o\crforty-eight miles of rough roa
. Wild nature's ways . ther molestation. If the harriedbird should attempt to seek safety by alightingon the water, its unrelenting oppressor quicklydisconcerts it by a series of tremendous down-ward swoops, which generally have the desiredeffect of inducing the wretched sea-mew to takewing again. My friend j\Irs. Jessie Saxby hasseen an enraged skua even strike and kill anobstinate gull that would not relinquish its catchof fish. The illustration of an Arctic skua appearingon the opposite page cost me a good deal oftrouble and a horse and trap the journeying o\crforty-eight miles of rough road. I heard of adistant Hebridean gamekeeper, who had a nestbelonging to the species under observation forme ; but alas ! when I reached the place, it wastoo late—the chicks had already taken theirdeparture. My field-glasses and a little patience,however, soon rectified the consequences of thismisfortune, and in brilliant, breezy weather, Ifixed up my hiding tent near by a second nest,and went inside to wait and ARCTIC SKUA ABOUT TO COVERHER EGGS. 100 WILD NATURES WAYS. For over two hours the female skua did nothingbut fly overhead, and aUght on different knowesfrom sixty to a hundred yards away, and criticallysurvey my handiwork, whilst the male dancedservile, and what appeared from the indifferenceof his spouse to be unappreciated, attendanceupon her. Convinced that the vibratory move-ments of my little tent before the strong windwere responsible for this, I furled canvas, andtook the whole thing away a gnnsliot and a half,and, stretching myself at full length in the heather,awaited the coming of the gamekeeper, who was toreturn to me at a certain houi. In less than fiveminutes the bird was covering her eggs with alook of restored peace of mind on her countenance. When the keeper, wlio liad been delayed bysome unforeseen business, arrived with a bottleof tea his wife had good-naturedly made for me,it was getting well on into the afternoon. Irelated my discouraging exp
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