268 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



Little Gull : Lams viiiiutus. 



An irregular and uncommon winter visitor, of which about a 

 dozen specimens, most of them in immature plumage, are recorded 

 from Essex. 



Yarrell says (25. iii. 544) : ''Dr. Waring gave ]\Ir. Leadbeater a beautiful 

 adult specimen, in winter plumage, that was shot at the mouth of a small river in 

 Essex." In the List of Suffolk birds, by the Rev. J. Mitford, of Benhall, two are 

 recorded from Languard Fort (Jesse's Gleanings^ vol. ii., p. 189), and on Sept. 3rd, 

 1885, two " cream-coloured Gulls " (probably of this species) were seen at Languard 

 L.H. (42.vii.), Mr. G. B. Ashmead records an adult in winter plumage (34. 1462) 

 shot early in Oct., 1868, on the Thames near Gravesend, when in company 

 with Common Terns. Dr. Bree says (32a) he possessed a male and a female 

 and two young birds, all in winter plumage, and shot at Brightlingsea in 

 Feb., 1870 ; also a bird of the year shot at West Mersea in Dec, 1874. Mr. 

 Kerry records (40. 52) one shot on the beach at Dovercourt on Aug. 24th, 18761 

 an immature specimen shot in Harwich Harbour on Dec. 9th, 1876, and an adult 

 on Jan. 8th following (40. 259), and a second immature bird on the Dovercourt 

 beach on Jan. loth, 1879 (4°- ii'- 182). In the Museum at Saffron Walden is a 

 young specimen in winter plumage caught on the wharf beside the River Stort 

 at Bishop Stortford about the year 1870 and presented by Edward Taylor, Esq. 

 An immature specimen was shot on the Thames, between Rainham and Grays, on 

 Sept. 20th, 1875 (29. Oct. 2), when flying in company with Terns. On Oct. 

 30th, 1889, a fine example, measuring lof ins. in length, was shot at Brightling- 

 sea and preserved by Mr. Pettitt. In the Dictionary of the Thames it is stated 

 that "within the last twenty years we have noted the occurrence of eight or nine 

 individuals of this species in Blackwall Reach, at Rainham, Grays, and Graves- 

 end." Mr. Harting records (^Birds of Middlesex, p. 254) one in nearly-mature 

 spring plumage from Blackwall Reach in the early spring of 1863. A bird of 

 the year with conspicuously-barred shoulders was shot off Mucking Light by 

 a Mr. Cooper early on Oct. 26th, 1889 (Harting — 29. Oct. 19, and40. xiv. 19). A 

 beautiful specimen, apparently in the plumage of the second 3'ear, was shot in 

 Harwich Harbour on Dec. 4th, 1889 (Kerry — 40. xiv. 19). Mr. Arthur Wright, 

 of Maldon, shot one on the Blackwaterin Feb., 1890 (Fitch). Mr. Hope observes 

 that it is "not uncommon in the immature plumage." 



Sabine's Gull : Xejua sahini. 



A scarce autumnal straggler to the British coasts from the 

 northern regions of Asia and North America. A single specimen 

 only has occurred in Esse.x. 



Mr. Harting writes QBirds of Middlesex, p. 252) : — 



"Early in September, 1862, Mr. J. Sorrell, of Trinity House, proceeded in a 

 boat towards the mouth of the Thames for the diversion of shooting Gulls, which, 

 at this season of the year, appear in some numbers ; and when nearly opposite 

 Blackwall he killed the rare specimen which is now before me." 



Mr. Harting adds a full description of this specimen, which was a bird of the 

 year. As Blackwall abuts on Bow Creek this may fairly be considered an Essex bird. 



Great or Common Skua : Stercorarms catarrhactes. Locally, 

 " Turd-bird," " Dung-bird" (E. A. F.), or " Dung-eater " (E. A. F.). 

 A rare passing migrant, seen on the coast when migrating in 



