I9I3- Warkkx. — Notes 07i Mioration of Skuas. 153 
after their comrades, and during that time we counted 
seventy-two birds. We were then called away to see to 
some business matters, and when we returned, the flight 
had ceased for that day. Next morning, we were out early, 
and found the flight was continued, and while we remained 
on the watch — eight to ele\en o'clock — over one hundred 
birds passed. Ha\'ing shot one, which was an immature 
Richardson's Skua, I concluded that the flight consisted 
of that species. Many of the birds, by their mode of flight, 
appeared tired, and some would occasionally pitch on the 
calm water, as if to drink or rest, but after a few moments 
would rise, and follow their companions. There were a 
great many of the black sooty variety, while the greater 
number appeared to be young birds of the year, exhibiting 
short tails. 
One singular fact regarding these skuas was, that 
although there were plenty of small gulls on the sands, 
none, so far as \\q saw, were molested by the passing skuas, 
which steadily held on their course to the south-west- 
Howe ver, this unusual sight of large numbers of skuas 
on migration sharpened our faculties, and w^e afterwards 
kept a good look-out for them ; and the result was, that 
during my brother's residence on the island of Bartragh 
from 185 1 to 1854, he observed every October, during 
stormy, broken weather, small flocks of skuas coming in, 
and passing to the south-west. But he never observed 
anv birds passing in fine or calm weather, proving that 
during fine weather they pass at such a height as to be 
unseen or unnoticed. 
After my brother had left Bartragh, there was no one 
to watch the birds there. I had to take up the part of 
watchman at Moy View, and my experience was like his ; 
frequently during stormy weather in October, I observed 
small flocks passing up the estuary, and away to the 
south-west. 
The next large flight of skuas seen on migration was 
in 1862. For some days up to the 22nd of October, the 
weather had been very bad, gale succeeding gale, accom- 
panied bv showers of hail and heavv rain ; that morning 
A 3 
