POM ATOlUIlNE SKUA. 
STERCOIURIUS ROMA TORIIINUS. 
It is stated by certain authorities that this species has been discovered nesting within the limits of the 
British Islands. Up to the present time this fact has entirely escaped my notice, and I am only enabled by 
personal experience to speak of the Pomatorhine Skua as a wanderer along our coasts during autumn and 
early winter Avhile returning from its summer-quarters in the far north. AYliat course these Skuas follow 
when working north towards their breeding-stations I have been unable to learn; though constantly at 
sea for many years during spring and summer off the southern, eastern, and northern coasts, I failed to 
recognize the species between J anuary and August. 
Immense numbers of both old and young annually pass over the North Sea Avhile on their return journey 
from their summer-haunts. The first-comers may usually be noticed off the south-east coast of Scotland about 
the middle of August. The earliest arrivals are for the most part, if not entirely, composed of birds exhibiting 
a state of plumage which I should judge (from the changes of those kept in confinement) to be that preceding 
the assumption of the perfect adult dress. These for the most part are without the long tail-feathers, though 
it is evident, in some instances at least, that these appendages have been broken and lost. The few stragglers 
in perfect plumage that have by this time reached so far south are seldom seen in the vicinity of the shore, 
keeping for the most part ten, fifteen, or twenty miles off the land; small parties of adults, however, are 
occasionally observed in the Pirth of Forth flying high in the air, making a straight course either due east or 
west. Having passed altogether three or four autumns on the coast of Fast Lothian, and spent the greater 
portion of mv time at sea, I have had ample opportunities of noting the arrival of these Skuas and watching 
their progress towards the south. In this quarter I did not recognize a single specimen of the dark form of the 
adult in perfect plumage, all that came under my notice being white-breasted or clouded. The adults of this 
species are easily distinguished on wing from the Arctic Skua when at any height in the air : in these Skuas 
the white feathers on the underparts of the belly meet the darker shade towards the vent and tail in an almost 
straight line, and form a conspicuous mark when viewed from below, while in the Arctic the light and dark 
colours appear to blend gradually together. The flight of the Pomatorhine is also more steady, and while on 
passage the birds usually keep at a greater elevation. 
A few words extracted here and there from my notes, jotted down while at Canty Bay early in the autumn 
of 187d, will give some idea of the numbers of these Skuas observed in the Tilth at that season . 
August 1871. Though constantly at sea during the early part of the month, no Pomatorhines were identified 
till the 11th (wind north-east and a heavy swell in the Firth), when a small party was noticed flying out to sea 
halfway between the Bass and the May. On the 19th, weather fine with a light westerly breeze, several small 
parties of adult Pomatorhines were again seen making their way out to sea ; these were all observed about the 
middle of the Firth. Pomatorhines were in numbers between the Bass and the mainland on the 21st, a few 
a^ain on the 22nd and 25th, and on the 2Gth half a dozen were noticed flying together in a straight line (their 
