SHORT NOTES ON BRITISH BIRDS. 29 1 



such cases are very interesting. In my introductory chap- 

 ter on the Birds of Egypt I have alluded to the theory, 

 supported by Kirk and other observers, that many birds — 

 Insessores particularly — breed to the south of the equator in 

 our winter, which is their summer; and it may be their 

 young which are got in England in spring in immature 

 plumage. 



Razorbill. 



On the 2nd of August, 1871, Mr. Cordeaux saw only six 

 Razorbills at Flamborough Head — where he had gone on 

 purpose to study the sea- fowl — in three days ; but when I 

 was there a few weeks before, viz., on the 21st of June, every 

 fourth bird I saw on the rocks was one. This shows that 

 they had shared in the benefits of the recently-passed Act, 

 and it was some other cause which occasioned their scarce- 

 ness in August. They appeared to me to be quite as 

 numerous as the "Parrot" or Pufifin. 



I only saw one young one, which was about half-grown ; 

 all the rest were adults. I was told that the Jackdaws got 

 their eggs very much ; but what amused me was a story 

 which was told to me of an overbold Jackdaw who ventured 

 to worry one of the old birds. The Razorbill bore it until 

 it could stand it no longer. There was a limit to endurance, 

 and exasperated beyond measure by such unprovoked 

 assaults, it at last seized the tormenting Jackdaw and bore 

 him into the sea. 



The Razorbills come quite over the top of the Flam- 

 borough cliff when the wind is high. Several nearly flew 

 against me, appearing almost unable to check themselves. 



Richardson's Skua, 

 A man at Lynn saw a Gull, which he said was a Great 



