464 STERCORARIIDA# 
with along the Scottish’ coast, next in frequency on the 
eastern side of England from Yorkshire northward. LHlse- 
where its visits are on the whole unusual, though, after 
boisterous weather, considerable numbers have been taken 
all round the coasts. As a recent large invasion may be 
mentioned, one which took place in the year 1891, when this 
Skua was abundant even along the southern shores of 
England, while examples were procured from several inland 
counties.” It has been obtained as late in spring as June 
4th, 1877, from Cornwall, and June 38rd, 1885, from 
Cumberland (Saunders). An exceptional instance has been 
recorded in spring or early summer from the Solway Firth 
(Macpherson, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1901, p. 285). 
With regard to its occurrence in the Hebridean Islands, 
Mr. Harvie-Brown mentions a specimen caught alive at 
Scolpig, in North Uist; another was recorded by Dr. 
M‘Rury, from Barra, on May 12th, 1896 (Ann. Scot. Nat. 
ist., Sop 0): 
It has occurred all round the Irish coast, having been 
most often taken from the northern and western sides. 
Mr. Ussher, in his ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ details an account 
of a migration of this bird when on its northern passage. 
The movement was witnessed on May 16th, 1860, on the 
River Shannon, by Lieut. J. R. Crane, who shot three 
examples. ‘‘ He stated that the weather, which had been 
very stormy for some days, was so wild on this occasion, 
with hail-showers, that it was difficult to keep his boat clear 
of water. At Long Island, about five miles south of 
Athlone, three successive flocks of these Skuas, consisting 
of twenty or more in each flock, passed over him, follow- 
ing the course of the Shannon northward, and showing no 
disposition to alight.” (Vtde also Proc. Dubl. Nat. Hist. 
Soc., February 7th, 1862). It is interesting to note that, 
as pointed out by Mr. Ussher, of the four British Skuas, 
only two examples (in each case a Long-tailed Skua) have 
been taken in the first quarter of the year in Ireland. One 
was procured in Wexford, on January 2nd, 1875, by Mr. 
G. H. Kinahan, the other on March Ist, 1846, in Tramore, 
1 A fine male specimen was obtained on the hills at Morvern, in 
Argyll, on June 6th, 1906 (H. Bisshopp, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1906, 
p- 186). 
? Recently, viz., on October 19th, 1903, one was obtained at Axbridge, 
in Somerset, after a severe gale (Stanley Lewis, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1904, p. 461). 
