discerned almost in tin* breakers; and as it was jiossililo to approach dose to the shore at this point (just north
of (blister), the steamboat was hacked in the endeavour to secure it. The poor bird was alive, though evidently
no longer ohle to contend against the force of the elements, sitting with its head drawn close between its
shoulders and washing helplessly at the mercy of the waves. The doidle was ever the stern, and another yard
would have enabled the capture to he effected, when a heavy sea rolled past and the bird was lest sight of in
the breakers. Owing to the surf, it was impossible to launch the small boat and make a search along the shore,
where the body would inevitably he east up in the course of a few minutes. Hy the end of the first week in
November the greater part of the adults had passed south; immense numbers must, however, have
perished from the effects of the continued gales. On the 9th, leaving the harbour early, we were at daybreak
among the luggers hauling about thirty miles oil' the land. Not a single adult was recognized, t hough birds of
the year were in considerable numbers, as many as four or live being noticed living round and chasing the
Gulls congregated at the nets of a single boat. As they hovered slowly round while awaiting their prey, it was
easy to distinguish several ditl'erent shades In the colouring of the plumage; and I succeeded in procuring
as many specimens ns I needed of both the dark and light varieties. Steaming slowly towards the laud
after midday, I noticed clouds of Gulls following in the wake of some of the boats which were also making
for the harbour. In a few instances where the operation of cleaning the nets was being carried on, the
Kittiwakes continued in attendance as far as the "roads," flying round in circles and swooping down to the
water as soon as the smallest particle of lisb dropped overboard. A short distance outside the busy throng of
Gulls, small parties of two or three Skuas kept steadily in view, though the moment any particularly
Inviting morsel had been seized they darted otf at once in pursuit of the captor. On the 18th the wind blew
strong from north-north-west, and two or three immature l'omatorhines were Hying before the gale along the
sands. On the ISth out again among I lie luggers while the nets were being hauled. The Skuas appeared to
have mostly passed on, but few in comparison with those lately observed being met with. Young only were
noticed; by feeding the Kittiwakes with liver and fish hundreds were drawn in attendance on the steamboat
for over twenty miles. The sight of this dense gathering perpetually dipping down for food induced every
Skua that hove in view to bear down at once on the swarm of birds. In one or two instances I remarked
that the most ravenous of the Skuas swooped down close to the stern and seized for themselves the food that was
flung over. Hearing that the sprat-boats above Lowestoft were getting immense hauls of fish, we steamed on
the 18th inside the sands as far as Soulhwold; Kittiwakes in thousands were round the boats and also a
short distance out to sea. Skuas were still plentiful and numbers collected when the Gulls were supplied with
food, young only being noticed. They proved especially tame, many hovering just above the deck while the
fish were being thrown over; the hungry birds atforded such an excellent chance of examining their stages
of plumage that 1 was saved the necessity of committing a ly useless slaughter. The following day, the 89th,
our course was again along lb 1st, and much the same birds wen: encountered ; this was the hist occasion 1
was at sea off the cast coast during the season of 1879.
While travelling by rail, on the 1st of December, across the Suffolk marshes, an immature Skua was
passed, sitting on the snow within twenty yards of the line. The bird was apparently worn out, and had
probably been carried inland, being utterly incapable of contending against the strong easterly breeze.
On reaching the south coast, I learned from the fisher.neu that earlier in the season many Skuas bad been
met with in the Channel; they bad, however, by this time all apparently passed on towards the west. Though
I was almost daily nt sea during December, not a single specimen was observed.
Since the autumn of 1879 I have not joined the herring-fleet in the North Sea, in order to obtain a
further insight into the movements of this species; according to the information gathered from the best
authorities among the crews of the fishing-vessels, the numbers that approached the land during the last two
or three seasons have been exceedingly small.
During a terrific gale of wind from the south on the 2 tth of October, 18S2, a small party of Skuas of this
species were blown inland at. Sboreham and settled for a time on a stubble-field ; though I did not succeed in
obtaining a done view, it wee obvious that the whole were in immature plumage. It is seldom I have met
with the 1'omatorbiue Skua at any distance from salt water; a couple of immature birds, however, were
observed tearing at the repulsive scraps of decaying meat on a heap of town-refuse carted out from
North Berwick to one of the neighbouring farms In the autumn of 1808- These youngsters were
busily engaged in company with some juvenile Herring- and Lesser Black-backed Gulls; the whole
parfy appeared most amicable, not the slightest attempt at robbery being attempted while I watched their
proceedings.
I am of opinion that Pomaforliine Skuas attain the age of five years before the perfect adult pliu
Í stages through which the birds I kept in confinement
is assumed. Judging from observations on tl
passed, it appears evident that these Skuas are seldoi
i off (
the second or third years. But a single specimen In tin
this rarity having been procured by the master of a Y
Meeling the skipper on the quay shortly after lauding, I
his last voyage, that he would like me to examine. I ws
and consequently imagined they might be getting nuplc
as when first shot, it was settled he should bring them
which proved to he an immature Gannct, a Pomat
satisfactorily determine, slunk in such a horrible mannei
and allow nie to see them by daylight, when an opportn
closely out of doors. On arriving at the man's house on the following morning, I (lis.
his absence from home they had been sold by bis wife for sixpence to a musician, as an
Ilarnsers », and were at that moment being cooked for the Sunday's repast, much h
neighbours in the row, who were almost poisoned by the stink. That the unknown bird w
: coasts while exhibiting the plumage of
ird year has come under my notice,
.ulb fishim
led be had c
ight be obtained I,
intumn of 1872.
i strange birds, killed during
.float for at least a fortnight,
•ver, that they were as fresh
a evening. The specimens,
ivhuse identity 1 could not
est 1dm to lake them away
i examine the siranger more
r, I discovered that during
, as an old anil two young
nueb to the disgust of bis
little doubt, though the
' tbei
unkui
e to decide at the ti
it that the bird was
a Skua there wa
cc keeping tbes
the 9th of November, 1879. Tho
it is easv to trace the two forms ir
ight for
hibitcd by s
gh birds
white hreasls when adult are by far the
e through which they puss
November 1879 I pn
adult), all being ca
of the gales. The i
enabled to
oed to the last
ird only survh
adults of this
Skuas alive (thro
tretnity by tin
•nt till the fol
*y than
il loathe
perfectly black,
figured on Plate
raid tint
daek Skm
i the North Sea by tho