216 THE SKUAS 



conditions these birds do not find it necessary to seek the land, and 

 that, as a rule, their migration remains unnoticed except by the crews 

 of the North Sea fishing fleet, while even now the route and time of 

 the return migration in spring is almost unknown. 



The first time this southward migration came prominently under 

 the notice of naturalists was during the latter part of October 1834, 

 when enormous numbers of sea-birds, including the present species, 

 were driven into the Channel and on to the coast of Northern France, 

 especially near the mouth of the Somme. In October 1879 a most 

 remarkable influx of this species took place on the east coast of 

 Yorkshire, of which Mr. T. H. Nelson gives a vivid description in the 

 Birds of Yorkshire, vol. ii. pp. 697-699. He states that in early October 

 great numbers were noticed in the Tees Bay, and on the 8th he saw 

 about fifty birds in small parties of four or five, all flying to the north- 

 west. Next day about a hundred in small flocks were seen going in 

 the same direction. On October 14 came the memorable "Skua" 

 gale. About 11 A.M. " the wind suddenly flew round to the north, 

 changing to north-east, and blew with great violence, being accom- 

 panied by torrents of rain. . . . Soon after noon the first flight of 

 Pomatorhine Skuas appeared, coming from the eastward : more 

 flights followed, their numbers increasing as the day wore on, and 

 scarcely had one party gone by before another hove in sight: they 

 flew in flocks of from seven to ten in number, skirting the shore, and 

 on arriving at the Tees mouth many of them alighted on the sands, 

 apparently exhausted by battling against the storm. They allowed a 

 close approach as they sat on the beach, only taking flight when an 

 intruder came within a few yards' distance. . . . Thus they continued 

 to pass for several hours, until by dark some thousands must have 

 gone by ; then the approach of night prevented further observations." 

 It was calculated that between five and six thousand birds must have 

 passed Redcar on this occasion. They continued to pass on the 

 morning of the following day, but on the 16th the gale slackened and 

 none appeared, although a renewal of the gale on the 17th brought 



