486 LARID.E. 



killed at Dover ; and a third is referred to as having been 

 killed near Liverpool, and then in the collection of Lord 

 Stanley." This species was afterwards characterised by M. 

 Temminck, in the second edition of his Manual, published 

 in October, 1820, Since that period many more examples, 

 most, if not all of them, young birds, have been obtained ; 

 but this species has not been known to breed, like the Com- 

 mon Skua, even in Shetland, and can therefore be considered 

 only as a winter-visiter. It appears to come down the lines 

 of our eastern and western coasts in autumn, some remaining 

 all the winter on our southern coast. 



Mr. Thompson mentions that several examples have been 

 taken on different parts of the east coast of Ireland. Li 

 1831, James Cornish, Esq. presented two living specimens 

 to the Zoological Society, which had been captured in Devon- 

 shire. An example of this species was shot, some years since, 

 in Hackney Marshes, near London. Early in the winter of 

 1837, many were received in the London market for sale, and 

 among them were eight or ten birds which had been caught 

 alive. Mr. Mummery, of Margate, sends me word that the 

 Pomerine Skua has been obtained on the coast of Kent. A 

 specimen killed in Cambridgeshire is now in the collection of 

 Dr. Thackeray, of King's College. This species has also 

 been taken on the coasts of Suffolk and Norfolk ; and Rud- 

 ston Read, Esq. has obtained several specimens off Scar- 

 borough. The Pomerine Skua also visits the shores of Ger- 

 many, Holland, and France ; and, according to Dr. Schintz, 

 one or two, which are found to be young birds of the year, 

 make their appearance almost every winter on some of the 

 lakes of Switzerland. 



In its habits it resembles the Common Skua, and the other 

 species of the genus, preferring a life of plunder to one of 

 independent industry, and hence the generic title, the term 

 Leslris signifying a robber. 



