

TOMERINE SKUA. 607 



181.9, whore, at page 32, lot 61, is "an undescribed Gull, 

 much allied to the Arctic, but greatly superior in size, 

 killed at Brighton ; and lot 62, a second example of the 

 same species, killed at Dover ; and a third is referred to as 

 having been killed near Liverpool, and then in the collection 

 of Lord Stanley." This species was afterwards charac- 

 terised by M. Temminck, in the second edition of his 

 Manual, published in October, 1820. Since that period 

 many more examples, most, if not all of them, young birds, 

 have been obtained ; but this species has not been known 

 to breed, like the Common Skua, even in Shetland, and 

 can therefore be considered only as a wiriter-visiter. 

 It appears to come down the lines of our eastern and 

 western coasts in autumn, some remaining all the winter on 

 our southern coast. 



Mr. Thompson mentions that several examples have 

 been taken on different parts of the east coast of Ireland. 

 In 1831, James Cornish, Esq. presented two living speci- 

 mens to the Zoological Society, which had been captured 

 in Devonshire. An example of this species was shot, some 

 years since, in Hackney Marshes, near London. Early in 

 the winter of 1837, many were received in the London 

 market for sale, and among them were eight or ten birds 

 which had been caught alive. Mr. Mummery, of Margate, 

 sends me word that the Pomerine Skua has been obtained 

 on the coast of Kent. A specimen killed in Cambridge- 

 shire is now in the collection of Dr. Thackeray, of King's 

 College. This species has also been taken on the coasts of 

 Suffolk and Norfolk ; and Rudston Read, Esq. has ob- 

 tained several specimens off Scarborough. The Pomerine 

 Skua also visits the shores of Germany, Holland, and 

 France ; and, according to Dr. Schinz, one or two, 

 which are found to be young birds of the year, make 



