88 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



or third year's plumage, near Berwick, and saw one, in a somewhat 

 similar state, which had been shot along the coast in the winter of 

 1893-94. 



This species is familiarly known to the people upon the coast 

 by the name of the " Bass Gull." 



ICELAND GULL, Larus leucopterus, Faber. A rare winter visitant. 

 An immature example flew quite close past me, in company with 

 some of the common species, on the sea banks near Berwick, on 

 3rd November 1878, and on 25th January 1885, I saw one, also in 

 immature plumage, on the Cheswick sands, two or three miles south 

 of the borough. There are several records for the Holy Island 

 district ; and there is one in the Museum, at Newcastle, which was 

 shot at Howick burn mouth, in Northumberland, in December 1892, 

 and which is in the rare, nearly white phase of the third or fourth 

 year. 



KITTIWAKE, Rissa tridactyla(L\TM3sa.^). Breeds plentifully at the 

 Fame Islands, and may rank as a resident, though the greater number 

 appear to migrate southwards, in autumn. 



It keeps more to the open sea than any of our other gulls, and 

 is only occasionally seen inshore. After a storm large flocks may 

 sometimes be observed, busily engaged dipping in amongst the 

 angry breakers, on some stretch of beach where sea-weed and other 

 refuse is being cast ashore. 



IVORY GULL, Pagophila eburnea (Phipps). An adult specimen, 

 shot at Cessford, in Roxburghshire, in the spring of 1883, and now 

 in the Kelso Museum, is the only record for the district. It has 

 occurred once, at any rate, upon the Northumberland coast. 



GREAT SKUA, Stercorarius catarrhactes (Linnaeus). A rare autumn 

 and winter visitant ; has occasionally been shot upon the coast of 

 Northumberland. I am not aware of any specimen having been 

 actually obtained at Berwick, but on 5th October 1880, I had a good 

 view of one which passed over me, near Tweedmouth, and of whose 

 identity I have no doubt. A very large Skua, which appeared 

 amongst the gulls in the harbour during the gale of 2ist September 

 1891, must also have belonged to this species; and one or two 

 other instances, where identification was not quite so certain, have 

 occurred. 



POM ATORHINE SKUA, Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Temminck). An 

 irregular autumn visitant, not very uncommon upon the coast, and in 

 some years appearing in considerable numbers. It is most frequently 

 seen in October, but a specimen which was shot here about the end 

 of January 1891 is in the possession of Mr. Peter Cowe, at Oldcastles. 



In the autumn of 1879, quite an irruption of this species occurred 

 all along the eastern sea-board of the country ; and on i4th October 

 of that year great numbers visited this district, some dozens being 



