208 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



Gull is that it breeds from West Russia to North- 

 east Siberia, even to the shores of the Sea of 

 Ochotsk, yet returns to winter in South Europe, 

 Africa, and the extreme south-west of Asia ! This 

 shows us how conservative birds are how strong 

 the impulses must be which attach them to certain 

 districts, in obedience to which they cross and 

 recross a mighty continent instead of seeking a 

 winter refuge in the seas round Japan and China, 

 not one-quarter the distance ! Two other species 

 of the Gull family are accidental visitors here in 

 autumn, viz., the Pomarine Skua and Buffon's 

 Skua. Both are circumpolar birds, breeding on 

 the tundras beyond the Arctic circle. The former 

 species is found most frequently on our coasts, in 

 some seasons occurring in considerable flocks. 

 The Little Auk and the White-billed Diver are 

 two more Arctic birds which wander south to the 

 British Islands in autumn and winter. Of the 

 Petrel family, the Sooty Shearwater is the most 

 distinguished visitor in autumn. This species 

 belongs to the southern hemisphere, and wanders 

 northwards, many individuals overshooting their 

 mark and straying to various parts of the North 

 Atlantic coasts, both of the Old World and of 

 the New. 



With a notice of the various species of Ducks 

 which have from time to time paid their irregular 

 visits to our islands in the autumn, we will bring 

 the present chapter to a close. Bewick's Swan is 

 a more or less frequent straggler here at that 

 season, occurring most frequently on the wild west 



