usual custom), hvo being lino-plumaged adult-, while-breasted with long tails. Sovor.il won1 clouded OIL the
breast and appeared dark; but I could not positively identify a black adult with long tail-feathers. On the 28th,
11 bile on! watching- i'ae small boa', s iVoui North Hem ick, loug-li a in; I'm1 baddies, several 1 'mi la I orlii lies w ere
flying round in company with Arctic Skuas, and a specimen or two were obtained. These birds were all in a
stale of plumage which is apparently the last stage before assuming the mature dress, and none exhibited the
elongated lail-b a I hers, though it is probable that these had been lost. Some long strings of I'omatorhines were
noticed on the 89th, living west. After a heavy gale on the 1st, the weather moderated on the 2nd of September,
and it was again possible to get to sea; I'omatorliines were observed at a distance, hut no great numbers showed
themselves. Some line adults seen on the 5th; on the Sth Arctic Skuas were in numbers pui'suing the
Kittiwakes among the islands, principally bet ween Fidr.i and the Lamb. A few I'omatorhines were also recognized,
but they sailed quietly past w it bout heeding the throngs of 0 nils ludow them. The 1It h and 1Mb squally .a fen
seen outside; 21st and 22ml, blow iug a yale from tin1 south-west, both I'omatorhiiie and Arctic were driven
along the coast; they were, however, by no means exhausted, being well able to continue their course, For
several days Arctic Skuas were observed, though no I'oinatorbines put in an appearance. Blowing a terrible
gale from the south-west on October the 2nd and 3rd ; numbers of (lulls and Skuas wore off in the Bay, hut
it was too stormy to put to sea, and the drift and haze prevented the glasses being of auy service. Weather
moderated on the 7th ; several Skuas seen in the Firth, outside the islands, a few being evidently I'omatorhinc;
and stdl more passed the boat on the Sth, alt living in an easterly direction, high in the air and straight out
During October and early iu November large parties of Poaiatorhine Skua* are usually to be found keeping
company with the licet of herring-boats as they work up the coast, procuring their food by attacks ou the
Gulls congregated round the nets. The numbers that approach the land vary considerably ; in flue weather
hut few arc seen, though a gale of wind while they are off the coast at times drives hundreds along the shore,
many being met with worn out, starved, and utterly helpless, from the effects of continued rough weather.
The appearance of this species after the protracted October gales in 1879 vvas referred to by several observers
as an extraordinary migration, the writers evidently being unaware of the multitudes annually passing over
the North Sea, harbouring for a time round our Beets of smacks and luggers ami gradually passing south. It
occasionally happens that, should the wind continue light, the main bodies keep a line from forty to
sixty miles off the cast coast. When but few arc met with round the larger English boats, I have repeatedly
heard of them, and on one occasion observed far greater numbers, resorting to the French craft: many of these
are vessels of considerable tonnage, carrying heavy crews, ami their tUh being in some instances cleaned before
stowage. Gulls in countless thousands arc in attendance, procuring an abundant supply of food for the
ravenous Skuas.
In the autumn of 1872 the weather was not sufficiently rough during October to affect the Skuas; the
greater number having passed southerly before the November gales, but few were noticed this season near the
land. A short account extracted from my notes will give an idea of the numbers seen off the east coast during
October and November.
October.—A few I'onialorhine Skuas in the first plumage were met with on the 7th (fresh breeze south-east)
about twenty miles off Yarmouth. Thousands of Lesser lilack-haeked Gulls, (iannets, and Divers were on tho
water, between twenty and thirty miles oil' the laud, the (inlls being in 1 irge bode s of sci oral hundred in a thick.
Two or three Skuas were sitting here and there ; occasionally they would rise on w ing and chase any of Ihc
smaller Gulls that approached, though for the most part they remained us quiet and contented as their
nei'diboura. Their fuod is evidently procured while the nets arc hauled at dawn ami during the first hours of
daylight, after which they rest and digest their meal, moving occasionally, if put up by a passing boat, with a
slow and lazy Bight, a short distance urer the waves. On the sth, though the baats nearest the sands had plenty
of Bah, and numliers of Gulls and Ganuets were flying round, no Sku is appeared in sight till after midday, when
a few immature I'omatorhines were met with sitting on the water, about tweuly miles off the laud ; they proved
to-day especially restless, remaining but a short time in one spot. Bui one Immature bird of the year was observed
on the 10th. The nets of a Lowestoft lioat were entangled, and as they held a good catch of tisb, humlriils of
Gulls and Gannets were Hying round, appearing at the distance of half a mile like a swarm of beta. As but.
the single specimen inferred to was iu attendance ou this large gathering, it was obvious that ll lain body of
the Skuas were further oil' the land. The boats were hauling only a few mile* outside the Cro.s Sands on the
1 tth.and even the Gulls and Gannets showed in but small numbers. Skuas of all descriptions, w it Is the exception
of an adult Arctic, being conspicuous by their absence. On the 2sth, though we steamed thirty miles out to sea
in a south-easterly direction, and remained in the vicinity of the boats all diy, no Skuas were observed. In the
evening I met the master of one of the tishing-1 aggers, who had been al ana nine days, during which time ho
had only seen one Skua ; his informal ion was perfectly reliable, the skipper being an old puntsman who invariably
carried a gun on hoard to procure specimens. Large bodies of Gulls and (ranuets were round the nets of
Ihc lioals, on the 9lli of November, a few miles outside the Gorton floating light; no Skuas were, however, seen.
On Monday the 11th a gale set in with heavy squalls from the north-north-east, and continued from different
poinls, with a short intermission on Friday morning, during the whole of Hie week. Though Galls and Stormy
Petrels were driven helpless on the beach and inland, 1 recognised but one Skua, an immature I'omatorhiiie,
which was making its way along the shore on the Kith ; the bird seemed in an exceedingly weak and feeble
condition. On Hie 20th 1 steamed out to sea and round the Cross Sands, but met with no Skuas, neither did
I learn of any being seen by the fishermen after this date.
In 187!) the weather was excessively stormy iu Oetolicr, and the Skuas suffered iu consequence, hundred*
and thousands being blown on to our northern and eastern coasts and also inland ; numbers were also observed
in the Channel. When the first-comers made their appearance early in I lelohcr. 1 was not on I he coast and did
not reach Yarmouth till the 21th. On the 25th, shortly after leaving tho harbour, I noticed three adult
I'omatorhines, black, w itb long tail-feathers, Hying round the North-Sand buoy and along the beach. As they
eoutiuued either over the sands or loo close iu shore for the draught of Hie steamer, the small boat was launched
and I started iu pursuit. The birds, however, made their way across the harbour-mouth, and were lost sight of
iu the mist; though following in the line they had taken as far as Ixiwestofl, no further signs of them could be
obtained. On ihc 27th several Skuas were mel with in the gat ways and outside the saads ; the birds appeared
to ho in a weak state, and were in the stage of plumage which probably precedes the adult dres*. Ouo
tine white-breasted bird with long tail-leathers was floating almost helpless, a mile outside the ' Newarp' lightship.
The weather was dirly and threatening on the 2sth, ami several Skuas were observed from LIIC deck of
the steamboat in the " Would.'' Heavy squalls of rain and mist, with a strong southerly breeze, on the 311th ; a
few I'omatorliines were drifting north before the force of the wind, either over the breakers or close along the
shore. Here and there one would be seen occasionally settling on the sand-hauks, evidently desirous of obtaining
rest, though the repeated attacks of llic swarms of Grey Crows collected on the beach Coned these weary
travellers to take wing almost as soon as they alighted. A perfectly black bird with long tail-1'eathers attracted
my attention ou several occasions when driven up from the water's edge. Each time the Crows approached with
harsh screams and croaks the stranger rose on wing and made Ins way slowly to windward, retaining again
after a short interval, drifting in circles before the squalls. Driving watched the actions of the whole group for
some lime. I procured this specimen, as the black form of the adult is evidently uncommon. Though several
iu various intermediate stages were seen along the shore, I did not recognise another adult of this colour, w ith
the exception of the three observed in company near the harbour-mouth on the 25th, Immature birds of this
species were living nurlh on the 3rd and again on the 4th of November; several in adult plumage were also
met with near the 'Cockle' light-ship, floating helpless on the water. One fine white-breasted bird was