THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 87 



over Chatham Hill in windy weather, November 

 27th, 1890, either in the second or third year's 

 plumage. 



ARCTIC SKUA. 

 Stercorarius crepidatus (Gmel.). 



The Arctic Skua is of frequent occurrence on the 

 Medway in the months of September and October ; 

 they are seen chasing the Common Tern and the 

 Black-headed Gull ; they are always in the immature 

 plumage, the colour which prevails is a dark chocolate 

 brown. Only on one occasion has another variety 

 been met with, which is spotted sandy and brown. 

 The mature bird with a long tail is extremely scarce, 

 one was shot out of the bounds of my district, 

 October, 1865, on the Swale River. 



LONG-TAILED SKUA. 

 Stercorarius parasiticus ( Linn . ). 



I have heard of no specimen of the Long-tailed 

 Skua ever having been shot on the Medway. 



FULMAR PETREL. 

 Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.). 



Exactly the same may be said of the Fulmar 

 Petrel, which I believe has never been seen on the 

 Medway. 



