244 POMATORHINE SKUA. RICHARDSON's SKUA. 



[Genus — Xema.] 



[Xema sabinii — Sabine's Gull.] 



A scarce autumnal straggler to the British coasts. 



Genus— STERCORARIUS. 



[Stercorarius catarrh actes — Common Skua.] 

 Breeds in the Shetland Isles, and in autumn and spring occurs 



along the British coasts. 



STERCORARIUS POMATORHINUS— Pomatorhine Skua. 



And with wild wing 

 The circling Sea-fowl cleave the flaky clouds. 



Thomson— Winter. 



There is only one record of this bird having been seen in 

 Herefordshire. A specimen was obtained by Mr. Preece, August 

 8th, 1882, on the Foxley estate, in the valley of the Wye. It had 

 seized a young Pheasant, which it was devouring when disturbed. 

 A trap was set, and baited with the remainder of the Pheasant, and 

 the Skua returned to finish its meal, and was caught. It is now in 

 the Hereford Museum. 



STERCORARIUS CREPIDATUS— Richardson's Skua. 



Mr. King-King gives an interesting notice of the occurrence 

 of this rare bird at Staunton Park, in September, 1869. A party 

 of gentlemen were out shooting, when, on crossing a field, they 

 observed a strange bird following the plough, and apparently 

 searching for food as the ground was turned up. Mr. King-King 

 fired, and killed the bird, which proved to be a Richardson's Skua. 

 It had probably been brought so far inland by the severe gales 

 which had recently taken place. The bird was very carefully set 

 up, and is still in the possession of Mr. William King-King. 



