5596 Birds, 



had been scaled off the remainder. A male bird was shot here some few years since 

 by the late Mr. Wardell: these are the only well-recorded instances that have 

 come to my knowledge. The male bird is now in the possession of Douglas Legg, 

 of Weymouth, who is a preserver of, and dealer in, objects of Natural History. — 

 William Thompson ; Weymouth, February 14, 1857. 



Occurrence of the Bridled or Ringed Guillemot near Penzance. — Mr. Vingoe 

 obtained a specimen of this bird a few days since, in what is termed summer plumage, 

 viz. without any portion of white on the throat or neck. The similarity of this 

 species with the common guillemot, both as to size and general character, makes it 

 doubtful how far the particular local markings, which give rise to its name, support its 

 title to specific difference; however, it must be remembered that, when Nature 

 adheres to particular marks, colours and conformations in the same parts uniformly, 

 the characters shown by this uniformity generally aid and confirm the impression as 

 to the specific intention of Nature. This does not always hold good to the full 

 extent, and I may instance the ring-neckecl variety of the common pheasant as 

 having the ring always in the same part of the neck, but without the deviation having 

 the slightest claim to being specific. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, February 21, 

 1857. 



Note on the British Skuas, genus Lestris. — There appears to be some obscurity 

 about the smaller species of the British skuas, both as to the number and also as to 

 certain characters. I remember corresponding with the late Mr. Yarrell upon this 

 subject some years since, on receiving a very small specimen of skua in adult 

 plumage, having the neck-feathers straw-yellow (as is the case with Richardson's 

 and the Pomarine) and with the central tail-feathers elongated beyond the others 

 from six to eight inches. I was induced to pronounce my bird, from the above 

 characters, to be the true Arctic jager. I have a specimen of the L. Richardsonii also in 

 adult plumage at least one third longer than my smaller bird, and in the same state of 

 plumage, but the tail-feathers, which in the other were produced six or eight inches, 

 in this do not exceed the others more than two inches. Mr. Yarrell's opinion, how- 

 ever, as to the identity of my two birds was at that time very decided, and he rested 

 his conclusion upon the middle tail-feathers of both my birds being graduated in 

 breadth from the roots and tapering to the ends, winch he said was never observable in 

 the Arctic jager, the middle tail-feathers of which are of equal breadth all along, 

 from the roots to their tips, a character which he has delineated in its figure in his 

 ' British Birds.' It would appear very evident, from a comparison of my two birds, 

 from their great disparity in size, and from the difference in the characters of their 

 tail-feathers, that they are different species; and the question is whether there is 

 a fifth species, answering the description of the characters of Mr. Yarrell, or rather 

 whether my smaller bird is not a distinct species from L. Richardsonii and the Arctic 

 jager. — Id. ; Penzance, March 11, 1857. 



