6 CORDEAUX : BIRD-NOTES FROM THE HUMBER DISTRICT 



field of the telescope. 

 rustica) and Martins ( 



(Hirundo 



l o 



Pratincola rubetra (L.). Whinchat. August 15th. Mr. Ha 



saw immense numbers in fields near the sea-bank in Tetney and 

 North Cotes. 



Motacilla raii (Bonaparte). Yellow Wagtail. August 21st. 



Mr. Haigh saw many between Tetney and Donna Nook, and 

 all young. 



Porzana maruetta (Leach). Spotted Crake. September, 



2nd week. One got by C. Clubley at Kilnsea. 



Stercorarius crepidatus (J. F. Gmelin). Richardson's Skua. 



In September very considerable numbers off the coast of Lincoln- 

 shire. Mr. Haigh shot about a dozen between Saltfleet Haven 

 and Tetney. I saw several off the former place in the third 

 week in the month. Mr. Haigh's birds showed an extraordinary 

 variation in plumage, and are distinctly referable to two forms. 

 Four skins now before me vary as follows : — 

 No. 1. Almost a uniform rich umber-brown, with a few light 

 brown markings on flexure of wings, under tail coverts barred 

 with same, legs and feet mottled. 



No. 2. Uniform dark brown, all the feathers edged with light 

 brown and whitish-brown. The first colour much brighter on 

 wing coverts and quills. Head dark with light brown streaks. 

 Cervix and sides of neck, smoke-grey, like a broad collar, very 

 finely streaked with darker markings, legs and feet mottled. 



No. 3. This is smaller than the others, a uniform clove-brown, 



feathers on back edged with pale grey, and very slightly so on 

 wings. Under parts very finely speckled and barred with 

 grey. First two primaries with white shafts, the next less white, 

 legs and half-feet yellowish. I should have thought this a young 

 Buffon's Skua had it not been that the position of the nostrils 

 is exactly the same as in S. crepidatus. 



No. 4. This is altogether remarkably light-coloured, the 

 darker feathers on back and wings very broadly edged with pale 

 brown. Under pasts very light, the feathers finely edged with 

 pale brown. Head and cervix almost uniform fawn colour, as 



parts 



Shafts of 



several of the primaries white, the upper parts of inner webs of 

 same, pure white. Half of tail mostly a rich buff. Legs and 

 feet mottled. 



Great numbers of £ crepidatus were seen off Flamborough 

 Head in the autumn, and on one day in September passing in 

 continuous flights to the south. 



Naturalist, 



