THE POMARINE SKUA. 
393 
were shot in 1837 ; one on the coast of Dublin, on the 6th of Oc- 
tober, and the other on the 21st of December, in Dublin Bay * In 
1837, also (but no month named), one is stated to have been ob- 
tained at Portrush, near the Giant's Causeway, by the collectors 
for the Ordnance Survey. An immature bird, purchased in 
Dublin market, on the 10th of December, 1846 (after having 
been long kept), has come under my notice.f On the 16tli of 
October, 1848, a stormy day, one was shot when flying inland 
from the sea, on the borders of Belfast Bay, whence it was driven, 
after being well beaten, by a black-backed gull. It was brought 
to me immediately after being shot, when the following description 
was drawn up : — 
in. lin. 
Length (total) . 180 
„ of wing from carpus ...... 13 6 
„ of bill from forehead to point, measured with com ■ 
passes (not following curve) .... 14 
„ of bill from rictus to point 2 2 
„ of tarsus 2 3^ 
„ of middle toe, exclusive of nail . . - . 1 
„ of its nail, measured in a straight line with compasses 
from base to point 4-| 
Two longest tail-feathers exceed the others barely . . 3 
This is a young bird of the year according to Jenyns’s description, p. 282, to which 
I have only to add that the three toes, their connecting membrane, and the nails, are 
wholly dusky black on the upper surface, except a very minute portion at the base of 
the middle and inner toes, which is blue like the tarsi. The under side of the toes 
and membrane is likewise dusky black, except a very small portion towards the 
base, which is bluish flesh-colour ; nail of hind toe flesh-coloured. Irides bluish 
black. It proved to be a male on dissection. Its stomach contained the vesicle of a 
Fucus, and other little fragments of vegetable matter. J This bird is much darker in 
colour than that described by Jenyns, and, in comparison with a stuffed specimen in 
the Belfast Museum, the difference is such as to require being remarked upon. 
“ The head, neck, and upper parts,” in the stuffed specimen, are of a cinereous 
* They were in the possession of Dr. Parkinson and Mr. Warren. 
A pomarine skua — young bird of the year — found dead this winter on the beach 
at Ballantrae, Ayrshire (as noted in ‘ Charlesworth’s Magazine of Natural History,’ 
vol. iii. p. 585), came under my inspection. 
f In Mr. Watters’ collection. 
% The stomach of one of Mr. Ball’s specimens contained a large quantity of the 
biid’s own feathers. 
