38 
shot, and saw and spoke to Oliver, but never asked 
him to turn out his bag, as Oliver appeared to be 
shooting at anything within reach. If he had only 
done so, we should never have got this bird ! 
LITTLE GULL.—(Sprinec Piumace) 
As the breeding season comes on, gulls of several 
kinds assume a black or brownish black head, 
which passes off again in the autumn. A familiar 
example is our so called Black-headed Gull (see 
cases 237 for their summer heads and 236 for their 
winter plumage). 
The Little Gull assumes a beautiful jet black head 
in spring time, with a delicate rosy tint on the breast, 
rivalling in both respects the Roseate Tern. It isa 
rare visitor to Britain in the winter, and a much rarer 
visitor here in its spring plumage, Ours was shot 
by a boatman named Southerden, at Jury’s Gap, near 
Dungeness, and just within the boundaries of the 
County of Kent, on April 7th, 1906. There were 
several about then, Mr. Bristow having seen two 
himself at Rye Harbour about the same time, but he 
could not secure them. 
This bird was preserved by Bristow and pre- 
sented to the Museum in 1908 by Mr. D. Hack. 
GT. NORTHERN DIVER. 
A specimen in winter plumage, shot in West 
Sussex by Mr. R. G. Wilberforce and presented by 
him in 1903. 
GREAT SKUA. 
Caught alive on a hook by some fishermen off 
Brighton, November 10th, 1846. It was so tame 
as nearly to allow itself to be taken by the hand. 
Acquired by Mr. Borrer. 
‘* Birds of Sussex,” p. 275. 
Another, from the collection of the late Bishop 
Wilberforce (of Winchester), was shot off Brighton, 
April 15th, 1864, and was presented to the Museum 
in 1903 by Mr. R. G, Wilberforce. 
