182 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



killed, I told him to bring them down for me to look at 

 in the evening. The specimens, which proved to be an 

 immature Gannet, a Pomerine Skua, and a bird I 

 could not determine, stunk in such a horrible and fear- 

 ful manner, that I requested him to take them away 

 and let me see them by daylight, when I hoped to be 

 able to examine the stranger more closely out of doors.* 



On arriving at his house on the following morning, I 

 found that they had been sold by his wife for sixpence 

 to a musician, as an old and two young Hansers, f and 

 were at that moment being cooked for the Sunday's 

 blow-out, much to the disgust of his neighbours in the 

 row, who were almost poisoned by the stink. 



The specimen in the case was shot in the Firth of 

 Forth, in August, 1874. 



GKEAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. (SUMMER.) 

 Case 234. 



This fine bird is to be met with all round the British 

 islands, breeding in the rocks that overhang the sea, 

 and also on the islands in several of the Scotch lochs. 

 During the summer months these Gulls are most de- 

 structive to the young of any game or waterfowl that 

 fall in their way. I have more than once seen them 

 rise from the carcase of a dead sheep, and have been 

 assured by shepherds that they not unfrequently kill 

 the sickly lambs, and at times even the ewes, if found 

 in a weakly condition. 



* The bird was about the same size and make, though slightly 

 smaller, than the Pomerine, of a pale chocolate, with round 

 white spots as large as a threepenny-piece on the back and wings. 



f Norfolk name for the " Heron." 



