666 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



p. 1694). In a later communication from Mr. Henry Milner 

 (Nun Appleton) it is stated that : " Ross's Gull was killed 

 by Homer, Lord Howden's head-keeper, in February last 

 (1847), m a ploughed field, near the hamlet of Milford-cum- 

 Kirby, in the parish of Kirby " (torn. cit. p. 1784 ; and Charles- 

 worth, " Proc. Yorks. Phil. Socy." 1847, p. 33). 



Considerable scepticism has since prevailed with regard 

 to the reliability of Graham's assertion that the bird was 

 obtained in Yorkshire, and it has been surmised that Sir W. 

 Milner was imposed upon by the professional bird-stuffer ; 

 but the fact that the specimen was in winter plumage is 

 proof of the reliability of his statement, as at the time of its 

 occurrence that phase of plumage was unknown. Important 

 evidence bearing upon the authenticity of the record is, 

 however, brought to light in the Field : on 7th November 

 1885, an editorial note is appended to an account of Ross's 

 Gull in Greenland, to the effect that "No faith is to be 

 placed in the oft-quoted statement that one was obtained 

 in Yorkshire." A fortnight afterwards a letter appeared as 

 follows : 



" In your notice about Ross's Gull you mention its occur- 

 rence in Yorkshire as being unauthenticated. I perfectly 

 recollect the bird having been killed at Tadcaster. I believe 

 the late Mr. Graham of York had it in the flesh, and sent it 

 to my relative, the late Sir W. Milner of Nun Appleton, whose 

 collection is now at Leeds, having been lent to the town by 

 the present Baronet." (F. J. Saville Foljambe, Osberton, 

 Worksop, I4th November.) 



(" It is precisely because the bird was obtained of a dealer 

 that its alleged history has been doubted. If we mistake no1 , 

 two contradictory stories were published about it, and it is 

 a significant fact that the species has not been heard of in 

 this country before or since. Ed.") (Field, 2ist November 

 1885.) 



Mr. Foljambe then rejoined : " The following extract 

 from Gould's ' Birds of Great Britain,' I think, ought to be 

 sufficient evidence as to the specimen being what it professes 

 to be. ' Ross's Gull was killed by Homer, Lord Howden's 



