LARIDAE—GULLS. 269
spring and autumn. It breeds very sparingly on two of the Shet-
lands. In common with the other Skuas, it is known among the
fishermen and others on the Essex coast by various local names,
which are expressive of one of its characteristic habits, rather than
polite.
One was taken at Elmdon about 1820, by the Rev. R. Fiske (Clarke—24).
At Harwich it is "rare," though one was shot just outside the harbour on Sept.
12th, 1876 (40. 52), and another was seen there in the autumn of 1888 (Kerry).
Mr. A. H. Smee saw two on the Thames on Oct, 3rd, 1867, one opposite Green-
hithe, the other by the Chapman Light, at the east end of Canvey Island (84.
1017). Yarrell says (14, iii. 483) specimens have been obtained in autumn on
the Essex coast. I saw a Skua, which I believe to have been this species, at sea
about two miles off Walton-on-the-Naze on Sept. 8th, 1888. " Wadding " records
seeing one pursue, and at last seize and kill, a Black-headed Gull off Southend,
on Oct. 30, 1858, Both birds were obtained and stuffed by Ward (29. Nov. 13).
Pomatorhine Skua: Stercorarius pomatorhinus.
An occasional visitor to the coast when on migration in spring
and autumn.
Yarrell mentions one (Zool. Journ. iii. 497 ; and 30. iii. 626) "shot in Hackney
Marshes some years since and now in the Collection of a gentleman at Wanstead."
Mr. Harting (Birds of Middlesex, p. 270), records a young one shot at the mouth
of the Thames in August, 1862. Mr. G. H. Baxter has one which he shot on
Oct. 7th, 1879, while yachting off Southend (29. Oct. 25). A bird of the year
was shot at West Mersea in Dec, 1874 (32a). At Harwich," a few are seen most
autumns " (Kerry), and Mr. Hope has one shot there in Aug., 1876,
Richardson's Skua: Stercorarius crepidatus. Locally
" Black-toed Gull " and "Boatswain " (E.A.F.)
Fairly common on the coast as a passing migrant in spring and
autumn. It breeds sparingly in the Highlands and northern isles
of Scotland.
In the Walden Museum is an immature individual killed at Sampford in 1837.
A specimen was shot during the severe winter of 1837-38 at High Ongar (19. 45).
Mr. Harting records an immmature specimen shot in Greenwich Reach in the
autumn of 1862 (Birds of Middlesex, p. 271). At Harwich it is "rare" (Kerry),
but an immature bird was shot on the Dovercourt beach on Oct. 12th, 1879 (4.0.
iii. 459), and in 1879 a mature and two immature birds were shot near Harwich
on Nov. 10th, 12th, and 22nd respectively, also another mature specimen seen
(40. iv. 69). Mr. Baxter has one which he shot on Oct. 7th, 1879, whilst yachting
off Southend, One was shot on the Blackwater Estuary in Dec, 1889 (Fitch).
Buffon's Skua: Stercorarius parasiticus.
A rare and occasional visitor when on migration.
Mr. Clarke mentions one killed at Sampford on Sept. 29th, 1837 (24).
Mr. Bond met with a young specimen at Southend early in Sept., 1842 (23.
40). On Oct. 20th, 1881, a very emaciated specimen was picked up near Wim-
bish and preserved by Mr. Travis (44. ii. lxxx.). An immature specimen was
caught on Canvey Island on Sept. 27th, 1882 (Bird). Mr. Baxter has one
which he shot off the pier head at Southend in the month of August about
the year 1883.