68 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XI. 
numbers of Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps c. cristatus) from 
all parts of the north of Ireland, including the suburbs of 
Belfast, in an emaciated condition, apparently suffering from 
acute diarrhcea. It would be interesting to know if this 
‘* epidemic ” has been noticed in other parts of the country. 
HERBERT T. MaLcomMson. 
BONAPARTE’S SANDPIPER IN SUSSEX. 
A MALE Bonaparte’s Sandpiper (Hrolia fuscicollis) was shot 
at Rye, Sussex, on April 14th, 1916. It was examined in 
the flesh by Mr. Ruskin Butterfield and Dr. Harrison and 
has been in my collection since April 27th, 1916, but I find 
that I have omitted to record it. J. B. NICHOLS. 
ALBINISTIC BLACK-HEADED GULL AND 
DESERTION OF A CHESHIRE NESTING-SITE. 
WuiLez watching the principal breeding station of Black- 
headed Gulls (Larus r. ridibundus) in Cheshire, on July Ist, 
1917, I noticed one adult bird with a perfectly white head— 
even the spot behind the ear was absent—and with the wing 
white also except a streak at the upper part. Mr. T. A. 
Coward noted an albino when he had this colony under 
observation some years ago. 
It is remarkable that this year the colony has abandoned 
the site it has occupied for about twenty years. From 
fifteen pairs reported by Coward and Oldham in 1899 the 
numbers had risen in recent years to perhaps 500 birds. 
The only explanation of the abandonment of their old 
home suggested so far is an extensive burning of the gorse 
surrounding the pool. F. A. Bruton. 
ARCTIC SKUA IN SOMERSET IN JUNE. 
On June 4th, 1917, an Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) 
was shot at the mouth of the river Axe, near Weston-super- 
Mare, and examined by me in the flesh. It was a fully adult 
bird and an example of the dark phase of plumage. There 
are but few records of this bird for Somerset—only some 
seven or eight altogether—which appear to have been mostly 
obtained in the autumn, and for an adult bird to make its 
appearance in early June, when it ought to have been at 
its breeding ground, is somewhat remarkable. Probably it 
was a belated bird on its way to the north. 
J. WIGLESWORTH. 
