100 
quantities, along the entire eastern and north-eastern coast line ; 
not merely, as in most seasons, passing soutliAvard on their ordi- 
nary, migratory, course — or collecting far out at sea around the 
Herring smacks on their fishing-grounds, or the “lightships” 
anchored off the dangerous shoals — hut swarming in our harbours, 
hays, and estuaries. Some few, Avhirled inland by the force of the 
wind, have been picked up dead or exhausted far from the coast j 
whilst others have been observed skimming over the fields in close 
vicinity to the sea, like ordinary Gulls in stormy weather, or 
tracing back for miles our tidal rivers ; the survivors of these 
northern invaders — for the slaughter has been considerable- 
returning only, after many days, to their natural element and when 
the gales had ceased. As to the cause of this exceptional, indeed 
unprecedented, influx of a class of birds Avhich may be reckoned 
as rare or but occasional visitants on the shores of bTorfolk, I fully 
agree Avith Mr. E. 1'. Booth,* — than Avhoin I knoAV' no one more 
competent, from personal observation, to give an opinion on the 
subject, — that it Avas not attributable to an “ extraordinary migra- 
tion,” but rather to the fact that these birds in following their 
usual autumnal, southerly, course, met Avith a succession of violent 
gales, Avhich compelled them to take shelter for a time, as coasting 
vessels under similar stress of Aveather Avould naturally do, in our 
harbours and minor inlets. Once “ inshore,” they came directly 
under the notice of gunners and collectors Avho Avould othei’Avise 
have been quite unconscious of their passage ; their usual line of 
flight being probably from thirty to forty miles out at sea. 
That the number of Pomatorhine Skuas, in particidar, should 
have been so remarkable is due, I imagine, to an equally simple 
cause and effect (an opinion Avhich I Avill presently support by 
evidence from other maritime counties), viz., the enormous shoals 
of Herrings on our east coast during the past autumn, and of 
Sprats, as stated in our local papers, une(iualled for many years 
past. Such a preponderance of their finny prey Avould naturally 
attract Gulls and Skuas — fishers and “ pirates” alike — to one 
common feast, and as the direction of the shoals Avould be indicated 
by these birds to the smacksmen, their vessels Avould become the 
rendezvous of successive arrivals from the north, both of Pomato- 
* See bis remarks in tlie ‘ Field,’ November 1870, p. 703. 
