A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BERWICK-ON-TWEED 89 



killed at Berwick. Exactly thirteen years later, viz. on i4th October 

 1892, I witnessed a remarkable migration of these birds on the 

 coast at Holy Island. Rather a strong wind from the north and 

 north-east had been blowing for three or four days previously, and 

 the sea was stormy in consequence ; and during the five or six hours 

 I was upon the rocks, Pomatorhine Skuas were continually passing. 

 The first flock consisted of thirteen individuals, while in others there 

 were as many as twenty or thirty, and between these many smaller 

 lots of from three or four to half a dozen birds. They all flew wild, 

 and rather high over the water, and were, curiously enough, pursuing 

 a course almost due north. White-breasted and dark forms seemed 

 to be nearly equally numerous, and, out of the whole number which 

 passed near enough for observation, not more than two or three were 

 seen with the long tail-feathers in a perfect state : no immature birds 

 noticed. They all passed in silence, and for the most part seemed 

 intent only upon the accomplishment of their journey, very few of 

 them stopping to pursue the Gulls and young Gannets which chanced 

 to come in their way. 



RICHARDSON'S SKUA, Stercorarius crepidatus (J. F. Gmelin). 

 An autumn visitant, not uncommon along the coast about September, 

 and appearing pretty regularly off the mouth of the Tweed. 



BUFFON'S SKUA, Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus). Only an 

 irregular visitant in autumn, and the rarest of the skuas. I saw a 

 fine adult, which had been shot at Eyemouth about the first week 

 in November 1879, tne vear f tne great visitation of Pomatorhine 

 Skuas ; and several have occurred in Northumberland. When on 

 our way home from the Fame Islands, on i4th September 1885, a 

 beautiful adult bird passed the boat, about half-way on the journey 

 to North Sunderland, and since that date I have seen two immature 

 examples procured upon the coast. 



PYGOPODES. 



RAZORBILL, Alca tor da, Linnaeus. A resident, abundant on the 

 coast in autumn, and winter, and frequent about the mouth of the 

 Tweed. A pair or two usually breed on the Fame Islands, and 

 numbers round St. Abb's Head. A heavy mortality occurs during 

 winter, when, after every storm, dead Razorbills and Guillemots 

 may be found cast up at high-water mark. 



GUILLEMOT, Uria troile (Linnaeus). A common resident, breed- 

 ing abundantly on the Fame Islands, and at St. Abb's Head. The 

 Ringed variety occurs not uncommonly at both these stations, and 

 has frequently been obtained upon the coast. The extent to which the 

 white bridle is developed varies very considerably in these specimens. 



The Guillemot not unfrequently comes into the river, where I 

 have sometimes seen it as far up as New Water Haugh. 

 IS C 



