92 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
The men who have been out all night fishing, or those who have 
the watch on board ship at the time that movement begins 
in the bird world, are those who have the best chances for 
observation; but—I speak from a sad sense of my own 
deficiencies— though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak, and 
even the ornithologist has at such a time been found sheltered 
from the blast, and trying to coax a pipe of damp Cavendish, 
regardless of the winged forms which were animating the dawn-lit 
air and waters. Of course it is hopeless to expect our fishermen 
to record migrations, when even our sailors and our amateurs do 
not do half what they might; but, until we try to avail ourselves 
of the stores of information these men could give if they were 
asked, we shall never know much of migrations of sea-birds. 
There is, however, some hope from the reports which are 
now being carefully prepared by Mr. John Cordeaux, Mr. J. A. 
Harvie Brown, and others, from notes kept by those employed 
on the lightships and lighthouses off our coasts; but, after all, 
it is on the fishing grounds that sea birds of all kinds most do 
congregate. 
Of the life-history of the Pomatorhine Skua less is known 
than of any other member of the family. It was found as far 
north as Parry went in his famous boat voyage, viz., 82° N. lat., 
and it ranges in summer throughout the greater part of the 
Arctic regions, being known to breed on the Taimyr “ barrens,” 
and on the Boganida in Siberia, where Middendorf obtained its 
eggs; and it is also believed to breed to the northwards of 
Egedesminde in Greenland. There are probably many other 
breeding-places_ still undiscovered, but actual proof is still 
wanting, and authenticated eggs are to be found in very few 
collections. In autumn it goes southward, and isolated specimens 
enable us to trace its course down the West Coast of Africa, and, 
touching at Moulmein, as far as Cape York in North Australia ; 
whilst on the American side it has been obtained as far south as 
Pennsylvania on the east side, and Alaska and the Pribilov 
Islands on the west. The ‘ Challenger’ also obtained a fine adult 
in Japan. It may, and probably does, visit other coasts; but 
that is all we know of its range, information being, as usual, most 
meagre respecting the North Pacific district. 
Richardson’s Skua, Stercorarius crepidatus, is a better known 
species, and also one which is far more puzzling in its varying 
