465 



to be common, but is met with now and again ; and Mr. Cordeaux says that immature birds 

 occur every autumn in small numbers in the neighbourhood of Flamborough and along the east 

 coast. According to Mr. J. Hancock, the Pomatorhine Skua is a rare winter visitant on the 

 Northumberland coast; and he possesses several in the first plumage obtained there, as also 

 two in mature dress shot on the Tyne. Two, in the collection of the late Mr. W. Backhouse, 

 were taken off the Durham coast. 



In Scotland it occurs more frequently on the eastern than on the western shores. Mr. 

 Robert Gray says that it is frequently seen in the Firth of Forth in autumn and spring, and he 

 has observed it off Dunbar. Sometimes, driven by the wind, they try to cross the country ; and 

 one was, he says, caught near Larkhall, in Lanarkshire, on the public road, in a disabled state. 

 It has occurred in the Firth of Clyde, on the Ayrshire coast, in Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbright, 

 and Dumfriesshire in the winter season. Dr. Saxby says (B. of Shetl. p. 356) that he procured 

 the skin of one said to have been shot at Scaa, in Unst, about Christmas 1860, and another was 

 shot by the Rev. Z. Hamilton, in Bressay Sound, a little before Christmas 1862. 



In Ii'eland it is met with occasionally in autumn and winter on various parts of the coasts. 



Professor Newton says that it is stated to be the commonest species of Skua in the north of 

 Greenland. It breeds in societies from Bjornenges, north of Egedesminde, to the northward. 

 Several were killed in Regent Inlet ; and it was also seen on the Parry Islands, but more rarely 

 than Richardson's Skua. Captain Feilden informs me that on the recent Arctic Expedition the 

 present species was not observed after the 'Alert' and 'Discovery' entered Smith's Sound; but 

 Ross, when on Parry's fourth voyage, saw one flying past the boats in lat. 82° N. Professor 

 Newton says (I. c.) that it occurs in Iceland, but is not common. He saw one at Reykjavik on 

 the 27th April. It is of rare occurrence on the Faeroes; and Von Muller only records two 

 instances of its having been met with there, but some years ago he sent me a fine adult bird labelled 

 L. parasiticus ; and Mr. Saunders also possesses one from there. In Scandinavia it is tolerably 

 common ; but Mr. Robert Collett informs me that he knows of no authentic instance of its having 

 bred in Norway, nor did he ever observe it during the breeding-season when in Finmark in 1872, 

 1874, and 1876, though he sought after it everywhere. In the spring and autumn, however, it 

 occurs on the coasts of Norway, and, though nowhere numerous, is by no means uncommon. 

 Occasionally a few are seen far up in the southern fiords ; but these appear to be birds out of 

 their course, and are always in immature dress. In 1837 twelve were shot off Christiania in 

 October; and again in 1875 several were killed in October and November in the same locality 

 and elsewhere on the south coast. Occasionally stragglers are seen on the inland lakes. 



Pastor Sommerfelt says that it is found every spring and autumn on the Varangerfiord, and 

 he has seen it in June flying down the Tana valley. The Fell-Laplanders, he adds, state posi- 

 tively that it breeds on the Varanger nsesset. Professor Newton writes (I. c.) that in June 1855 

 he and Mr. Simpson observed off Berlevaag, a promontory east of the North Cape, large flocks of 

 this species. On their return afterwards with Mr. Wolley they again saw them. In 1857 

 Mr. Wolley sought diligently, but unsuccessfully, for their breeding-place in this district. He 

 was led to believe that, in the years when the lemmings swarm in the mountains, they usually 

 breed far in the interior of the country. 



