217 
WHITE-BILLED NORTHERN DIVER 
(COLYMBUS ADAMSI), AND OTHER SEA FOWL 
AT SCARBOROUGH. 
W. J. CLARKE, F.Z.S. 
The prolonged period of strong off-sea winds experienced 
on the Yorkshire Coast during the latter part of February 
and early part of March, 1916, brought great numbers of sea 
birds to the shelter of the coast, where they congregated in the 
harbours and quiet places until the gale subsided. 
At Scarborough, the effect of the storm upon the birds was 
very marked. Great quantities of gulls congregated in the 
South Bay, where at times their numbers must have reached 
many thousands. These thronged the harbour, and sat in 
rows upon the piers and the roof of the fish market waiting 
for the usual offal to be thrown overboard to them. But as 
the trawlers could not get out to sea, there was no food thus 
supplied, and a considerable number of the birds perished in 
consequence. Every day, during the latter part of the 
gale, dead and dying gulls could be seen floating in the 
harbours. On March 6th, during a couple of miles’ walk 
along the south beach, I picked up eleven dead gulls; on 
the 7th I found eight, and on March gth seventeen fresh 
corpses wereseen. These included Herring Gulls, Black-headed 
and Common Gulls, and a single Great Black-backed Gull. 
None bore trace of any injury, and a rough post-mortem 
showed in every specimen examined, that the body was ex- 
tremely emaciated, and the stomach contained no trace of 
food. Together with the bodies of the gulls were the recently 
dead remains of many Razorbills, nearly all adult birds, no 
doubt just returning to their breeding stations at the Speeton 
and Gristhorpe Cliffs, a few Guillemots, including a single Ringed 
Guillemot, several Puffins, a few Little Auks and a single 
Fulmar Petrel. At one time the presence of so many corpses 
would have brought forth strictures upon ‘ the man with the 
gun,’ but as not a shot has been fired upon our coast since the 
commencement of the war, other reasons must be sought, and 
I am satisfied that the cause of death in almost all cases was 
‘starvation. 
A visit paid to the harbour during this period of wild 
‘weather was full of interest. In addition to the crowds of gulls, 
there were other avian visitors awaiting the return of quieter 
times. A little group of seven Shags—two adults and five 
immature birds—was a conspicious feature, and as these 
usually shy birds were very tame, an excellent opportunity of 
watching their ways was afforded. They dived constantly 
2916 July 1. 
