300 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



Mr. Arthur Martin, of Bournemouth, writes to me to say that a 

 friend of his has received a Pomatorhine Skua (Stercorarius pomator- 

 hinus) shot at Weymouth early this month. This Skua is for the most 

 part a common Spring or Autumn migrant to our Country, and 

 examples are not unfrequently met with during the Winter. It is an 

 inhabitant of the Northern Nearctic and Palearctic Regions, and in 

 the colouration of its plumage varies considerably. There are two 

 distinct varieties, one being light and the other dark, and, curious to 

 relate, neither seems to be attributable to sex or age. The mature 

 bird of the light form is mostly dark brown above, black crown, white 

 neck, with a buffish-yellow tinge, dull white breast, brown on lower 

 belly and under tail coverts, brown irides, deep horn-coloured bill, 

 black at tip, black legs and feet. It is about 21 inches in length. 



8th. Dark morning, fine early, rain later. Strong S.W. wind 

 afternoon and evening. Skylark singing. Starlings very noisy, also 

 Chaffinch. Common Bunting went over, crying " Tisit, tisit." It is 

 not often one comes across this latter bird, in spite of the forepart 

 of its name. Robin singing. 



Mr. Robert Wilkinson is the writer of a very interesting and 

 valuable letter to the London " Standard." Mr. Wilkinson pleads 

 and that he has good cause to do so we ourselves can testify for the 

 stoppage of what is wanton slaughter of bird life, i.e., the habits of 

 poulterers and the like of decorating their shops with uneatable and 

 oftentimes rare birds. We have seen Herons, Hawks, Terns, Gulls 

 and other birds strung up amongst Plovers, Grouse, Pheasants and 

 other perfectly legitimate species, and have often wondered what 

 mortal good such exposures could do the salesman. Doubtless, these 

 birds are included in the hampers of Wild Fowl, etc., despatched to 

 the shops; but the old adage still holds good, that if there were no 

 receivers there would be no, or few thieves. It is a crying shame 

 that these evils should be allowed to exist unchecked, and bird lovers 

 everywhere should make it a sacred duty to remonstrate with those 

 receiving and exposing such birds as have been mentioned above 

 and give their custom elsewhere. 



9th. We have had some very damp and dismal week-ends with 

 Nature just recently. To-day it was very wet until about 11 am., 

 whan the sun got through and cleared up beautifully. In spite of the 

 dismal surroundings, we were out and about fairly early, and were 

 well rewarded for any discomfort by being able to make the following 

 notes : 



