POMATOKHINE SKUA. 
3 
of fish, and numbers of Gulls and Gannets were flying round, no Skuas appeared in sight till after midday, when 
a few immature Poniatorhines were met with sitting on the water, about twenty miles off the land ; they proved 
to-day espeeially restless, remaining but a short time in one spot. But one immature bird of the year was observed 
on the lOtli. The nets of a Lowestoft boat were entangled, and as they held a good catch of fish, hundreds of 
Gulls and Gannets were flying round, appearing at the distance of half a mile like a swarm of bees. As but 
the single specimen referred to was in attendance on this large gathering, it was obvious that the main body of 
the Skuas were further off the land. The boats were hauling only a few miles outside the Cross Sands on the 
14th, and even the Gulls and Gannets showed in but small numbers. Skuas of all descriptions, with the exception 
of an adult Arctic, being conspicuous by their absence. On the 28th, though we steamed thirty miles out to sea 
in a south-easterly direction, and remained in the vicinity of the boats all day, no Skuas were observed. In the 
evening I met the master of one of the fishing-luggers, wlio had been at sea nine days, during which time he 
had only seen one Skua ; his information was perfectly reliable, the skipper being an old puntsman who invari- 
ably carried a gun on board to procure specimens. Large bodies of Gulls and Gannets were round the nets of 
the boats, on the 9th of November, a few miles outside the Corton floating light; no Skuas were, however, seen. 
On Monday the 11th a gale set in with heavy squalls from the north-north-east, and continued from different 
points, with a short intermission on Uriday morning, during the whole of the week. Though Gulls and Stormy 
Petrels were driven helpless on the beach and inland, I recognized but one Skua, an immature Pomatorhine, 
which was making its way along the shore on the IGth ; the bird seemed in an exceedingly weak and feeble 
condition. On the 20th I steamed out to sea and round the Cross Sands, but met Avith no Skuas, neither did 
I learn of any being seen by tbe fishermen after this date. 
In 1879 the weather A\ns excessively stormy in October, and the Skuas suffered in consequence, hundreds 
and thousands being bloAvn on to our northern and eastern coasts and also inland ; numbers were also observed 
in the Channel. When the first-comers made their appearance early in October, I Avas not on the coast and did 
not reach A^armouth till the 21th. On the 25th, shortly after leaving the harbour, I noticed three adult 
Pomatorhines, black, Avith long tail-feathers, flying round the Xorth-Sand buoy and along the beach. As they 
continued either over the sands or too close in shore for the draught of the steamer, the small boat was launched 
and I started in pursuit. The birds, hoAvever, made their AAny across the harbour-mouth, and Avere lost sight of 
in the mist; though folloAAung in the line they had taken as far as Lowestoft, no further signs of them could be 
obtained. On the 27th several Skuas Avere met Avith in the gatAAnys and outside the sands ; the birds appeared 
to be in a weak state, and Avere in the stage of plumage Avhich probably precedes the adult dress. One 
fine Avhite-breasted bird with long tail-feathers was floating almost helpless, a mile outside the ‘ Kewarp ’ light- 
ship. The weather Avas dirty and threatening on the 28th, and several Skuas were observed from the deck of 
the steamboat in the “ Would.” Heavy squalls of rain and mist, Avith a strong southerly breeze, on the 30th ; a 
fcAv Pomatorhines were drifting north before the force of the Avind, either over the breakers or close along the 
shore. Here and there one would be seen occasionally settling on the sand-banks, evidently desirous of obtaining 
rest, though the repeated attacks of the swarms of Grey CroAvs collected on the beach forced these Aveary 
travellers to take wing almost as soon as they alighted. A perfectly black bird Avith long tail-feathers attracted 
my attention on several occasions when driven up from the Avater’s edge. Each time the Crows approached AAuth 
harsh screams and croaks the stranger rose on Aving and made his way slowly to Avindward, returning again 
after a short interval, drifting in circles before the squalls. Having Avatched the actions of the Avhole group for 
some time, I procured this specimen, as the black form of the adult is evidently uncommon. Though several 
in various intermediate stages were seen along the shore, I did not recognize another adult of this colour, with 
the exception of the three observed in company near the harbour-mouth on the 25th. Immature birds of this 
species were flying north on the 3rd and again on the 4th of November ; several in adult plumage were also 
met Avith near the ‘ Cockle ’ light-ship, floating helpless on the water. One fine white-breasted bird was 
