NATATORES. 269 



GLAUCOUS GULL, Larus glaucus. An immature 

 specimen of the Glaucous Gull was purchased in 

 London, in a fresh state, by Mr. Bartlett, during 

 the winter of 1838. This winter was a very severe 

 one, and numbers of rare wild fowl visited us 

 from the north. It is not improbable, therefore, 

 that the bird in question was killed upon the river, 

 or upon one or other of the large sheets of water 

 in the county. It was placed in the collection 

 of Mr. Yarrell, and a full description of it will be 

 found at p. 619, vol. iii., of that author's ' History 

 of British Birds.' 



POMARINE SKUA, Lestris pomarina. The Skua 

 Gulls differ so much in their structure and habits 

 from the others of the family Larida, that they have 

 been considered entitled to generic distinction. They 

 seldom take the trouble to fish for themselves, but 

 give chase to other Gulls and force them to dis- 

 gorge the fish which they have taken, and so active 

 are they on the wing, that they frequently catch a 

 disgorged fish before it reaches the water. A 



of his death, which can only be accounted for by supposing 

 that, owing to a clipped wing and the removal of some steps, 

 he was detained a prisoner in the water all night, and perished 

 from cold and cramp. The night in question was excessively 

 cold, and before morning there was a sharp frost. Ex- 

 cept in very calm weather, Gulls never remain all night 

 upon the water. 



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