7o6 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



noticed at the date of Allis's Report in 1844. Previous to 

 the great irruption of Skuas in October 1879, the instances 

 of its occurrence are hmited to some five or six examples 

 obtained at Redcar and Flamborough, and the mature birds 

 were amongst the desiderata of most collectors. During 

 the invasion of Skuas in the year mentioned no fewer than 

 fifteen adults were captured at Redcar, and several others were 

 seen {Zool. 1880, pp. 18, 19, 365) ; at Scarborough eight adults 

 were taken to the late Alfred Roberts ; whilst specimens were 

 also procured at Whitby, York, and Thirsk. Never before 

 nor since have such extraordinary numbers of these birds 

 been known on the eastern seaboard of Britain, and its causes 

 have yet to be ascertained (see Pomatorhine Skua). As 

 a rule its visits to Yorkshire take place in autumn only ; the 

 earliest example noted was taken alive at Redcar on 20th 

 June 1849, 3- most unusual date for the occurrence of any 

 bird of this family so far south ; whilst the latest record is 

 6th November, It has not yet been recorded on the spring 

 passage northward, though, doubtless, it occurs at that 

 period. 



For purposes of reference a list of Yorkshire occurrences 

 is appended : — 



Yorkshire coast, 1849. Three on the coast ; one of these 

 was taken alive by some fishermen near Redcar, on 20th 

 June 1849, 3-^^ was kept for some time at Thirsk in the posses- 

 sion of a man named Robinson. It died, and was preserved 

 by Graham of York ; he sold it to Mr. Rudstone Read, who 

 presented it to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society {Zool. 

 1849, PP- 2569, 2592). 



Hopperton, near York. One immature, 6th November 

 1853. Formerly in the late J. C. Garth's collection at Knares- 

 borough. (This specimen is labelled " Richardson's Skua," 

 but, on examination, I found it to be S. parasiticus.) 



Flamborough, one immature male, 7th September 1864. 

 Reported by Matthew Bailey {op. cit. 1864, p. 9365 ; and 

 " Birds of Humber," p. 209), though the recorder's descrip- 

 tion, viz., " white shafts of primaries," indicates Richardson's 

 Skua. 



