8332 



Birds. 



the other hand, they correspond with my figure, it stands to reason the bill would not 

 shrink during the winter to the size of the abnormal, and also lose its oblique bars. 

 The razorbilled auk in its first winter is very analogous to the abnormal puffin, and 

 was considered formerly a distinct bird. — H. Blake-Knox ; Bartragh, Dalkey, Co. 

 Dublin, November 14, 1862. 



Postscript to the preceding Paper. — Pardon me for again troubling you with a 

 sketch of a puffin's head shot by me on the 17th of this month. It bears a strong 

 resemblance in shape to that previously sent you ; it is, however, deeper, the upper 

 mandible more arched, and the line where the two mandibles meet less curv ed. The 

 bars on the surface are wanting ; the line crossing it on the upper mandible indicates 

 a narrow rather deep groove ; that on the under mandible is much shallower. From 

 the tip of both mandibles to this groove is deep orange-brown ; the basal half of upper 

 very soft, of a lead-colour ; the corresponding part of under mandible dull flesh- 

 colour. The wrinkled flesh about gape lemon-yellow ; that round the eye brown. 

 Cheeks pale smoke-colour. Toes — flesh, webs and sole — ochre. This description may 

 be interesting to you, as showing the development of this bird. I am not aware of 

 any author who describes the puffin in its young state during its various stages. I 

 am uncertain if these birds are in their first winter or not; and yet I am convinced 

 that the puffin could not acquire such a bill in one year. I do not like filling the 

 pages of the ' Zoologist' with perhaps useless notes on this subject; but if you desire 

 I will send a description of this bird ; it may perhaps be interesting, |as showing the 

 progress towards maturity. Until k it is decided how long the puffi remains imma- 

 ture, little can be done in distinguishing the two birds. The question seems to me 

 far from being settled.—//. Blake-Knox ; November 24, 1862. 



[I have not thought it necessary to have this second figure cut, as my correspond- 

 ent has most accurately defined the difference between the two. — Edward Newman.'] 



Sandivich Tern (Sterna Boysii) in Norfolk. — On the 13th of August a fine male 

 specimen of the Sandwich tern was shot at Blakeney. — Henry Stevenson ; Norwich. 



Pomarine Skuas in the Orkneys. — On the 10th instant I saw a very fine adult 

 pomarine skua (Lestris pomarinus) here, as ii flew slowly past and within a few yards 

 of me. I could not be mistaken about it. Unfortunately I had not my gun with me 

 at the time, or I could have shot it easily. In November, 1857, I shot several imma- 

 ture specimens here, but since then I have not seen any. About that time I heard of 

 an adult specimen being obtained near Kirkwall ; but the one mentioned above is the 

 only adult I ever saw here myself. On one of my collecting tours in Iceland I got 

 adult specimens, as well as their eggs; but I did not see many altogether. — 

 J. H. Dunn ; Stromness, Orkney, November 17, 1862. 



The Pomarine Skua in the Isle of Wight. — Another specimen of the pomarine 

 skua was shot by Sir John Simeon's keeper at Swainstone, about six miles from here, 

 on the 24th of October. I have no doubt it was one of those which were in company 

 with the fine old male 1 shot on the 23rd (Zool. 8286) : the present specimen is a 

 young female, in a very interesting state of plumage. The neck is brown, the nape 

 tinged with gray, the breast mottled with brown and dingy yellow : back dark umber- 

 brown, margined with paler brown: middle tail-feathers two inches longer than the 

 others. A third specimen was shot by Mr. Sawley on the 4th of November, but so 

 damaged that it is worthless. — H. Rogers; Freshwater, Isle of Wight, November 5, 1862. 



Skuas on the Coast of Dublin. — Skuas have been very plentiful on this coast this 

 year; three or four may commonly be seen pursuing one gull. I have shot specimens 



