NATATORES. 271 



there is a note from Mr. Yarrell to the effect that 

 a young Arctic Gull {Lestiis parasiticus) was shot on 

 the Thames, near Battersea, in September, 1824. 

 This, probably, is the specimen referred to in the 

 * History of British Birds.' 



In the autumn of 1862 an immature bird of this 

 species was shot on the Thames, in Greenwich 

 Reach, and is now in my collection. Several of 

 the Common Skua {Lestris cataractes) were ex- 

 hibited for sale in the London market during the 

 winter of 18o7, but no particulars of their capture 

 could be obtained. 



FoRKTAiLED Petrel, TJialassidroma Leachii. The 

 Petrels being such thoroughly oceanic birds, are of 

 rare occurrence in a midland county ; but, as in the 

 case of Gulls and Terns, individuals are occasionally 

 driven inland by severe weather, and are generally 

 found to be much exhausted. A Petrel of this 

 species was caught alive, in an exhausted state, by 

 a man at work on the high road between Edgeware 

 and Stanmore, on the 4th January, 1850. Mr. 

 Yarrell says several have been observed " near 

 London," and one, shot near the Steam Mill, op- 

 posite Bow Creek, in March, 1864, lately came under 

 my notice. 



Storm Petrel, Thalassichoma pelagica. The same 

 remark will apply to this as to the last-named species : 

 it is only after a prevalence of high winds, or severe 

 weather on the coast, that it leaves its true element 



