112 
Skua, all recently killed, and exhibiting so strange a diversity of 
plumage in both adult and immature examples. For the oppor- 
tunity of examining thirty-four of this fine series of birds I am 
greatly indebted to ]\Ir, Cole and thougli Mr. Iloberts, one of our 
best Norwich birdstuffers, received but one, his specimen, killed at 
Yarmouth on the IStli of October, — as to the pure whiteness of 
the under parts (excepting of course tlie under tail-coverts) is far- 
away the most mature bird of the 'white-breasted form I ever saw, 
answering to Mr. Saunders’ description (‘Field,’ January 17th, 
1880) of a fully adult bird from the Faroe Islands, killed in May, 
18/ 7, in which the dark jiectoral-baird had entirely disappeared. 
With reference to sex, age, and the proportion of dark to light- 
coloured forms, Mr. Cole’s specimens may be tlius tabulated : — 
White- breasted form, more or less adult . . . . IG 
Supposed immature of ditto ....... G 
Black form fully adult 2 
Probably immature of ditto (j 
Immature— doubtful 
.34 
Of these, so far as it was possible to ascertain the fact by 
dissection, eleven were males and twenty-one females ; two 
unknown, having been skinned elsewhere. 
As shown above, the more or less adult birds, light or dark, 
were as eighteen to sixteen young ones and as to localities, nine- 
teen came from l: armouth, seven from Flakeney, and eight from 
Lynn, Wells, Holkham, etc., on the northern shores of the county. 
The dates on wliich ho received them were— October 16th, nine; 
October 20th to 26th, five ; October 30th, nineteen ; tlie latter all 
from Yarmouth. 
Iho follow'ing notes on the plumage of the most striking 
specimens in the above series will, I think, prove of interest to 
some readers. 
Whitk-breasted Form, more or less Adult. 
No. 1.* In this bird, a fully adult male (Iloberts’) with the 
* Where not stated to the contrary, tlie feet and legs were whole- 
coloured, very dark brown in a fresh state, becoming black in the preserved 
specimen. The upper parts of the plumage, also, excepting on the n.aiieof 
the neck, an even tint of daik brown. 
