A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE a specimen near Maidenhead (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 148). Mr. T. W. Proger informs me that he shot one at Moulsford Ferry in October, 1900. 193. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. This, the smallest of the British terns, is an occasional visitor. One was taken at Wallingford, September, 1794 (' Ornith. Ber- cheria'). In July, 1867, another was shot near Windsor and one at Cookham Grove (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 149), and a third is mentioned the same year in the Wellington College Natural Science Report. The landlord of the Swan Inn, Pangbourne, has one in his possession killed in that district. 194. Sooty Tern. Sterna fulig inosa, Gmelin. On June 21, 1867, one of these birds was shot on the Thames near Wallingford by Mr. Franklyn, and examined in the flesh by Mr. J. E. Harting (Zool. 1869, p. 1867). It was an adult bird. 195. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. One was shot at Sandford on October 27, 1890 (Fauna and Flora of Radley, p. 13). This is just over our boundary, but it was probably on the river which here divides the two counties. 196. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. Often seen on the Thames in spring and occasionally in autumn. A large flock re- mained for some days on partially-flooded meadows at Bolney Court in March, 1900, which continually passed over to our side. Under the name of L. ntevius (this gull in winter plumage) it is mentioned in Dr. Lamb's list, and under the name of masked gull (Larus capistratus) the same bird is recorded by Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 2 1 6). 197. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. Frequently seen in spring and autumn, more especially in the former months. The last that has come under my notice was killed at Sulhampstead on February 8, 1902. 198. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, Gmelin. This species may often be seen in stormy weather flying high over the county, and has been taken a few times. Morris mentions one captured between Maidenhead and Wind- sor in January, 1855. It is recorded from Wellington College, and I have more than once seen specimens at Park Place. A fine example of the second year was shot at South Hill Park in August, 1889, by a keeper named May (E. T. Phillips in lit.}. 199. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus, Linn. Rather more uncommon than the pre- ceding, though possibly some of the immature birds seen but not handled might belong to this species. One was shot on Wash Com- mon in 1884 (Palmer, ' Birds of Newbury and District'), and another adult male taken at Upper Mapledurham Lock on April 30, 1898 (Bradshaw in lit.). 200. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus mari- nus, Linn. Mr. Newton of Crowmarsh tells me he has one in his collection killed near Wallingford. 201. Kittiwake Gull. Rissa tridactyla(L n.). Occasionally met with. Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Bucks) says he examined several of these gulls killed in the county, but was unable to procure any particulars. One was killed near Newbury on January 27, 1872 (Newbury and District Field Club, p. 98). On January 31, 1901, another was caught with a rod and line on the river near Mapledurham (Bradshaw in lit.). Another was obtained by Mr. Newton near Walling- ford. 202. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius poma- torhinus (Temminck). A male was discovered by Mr. H. M. Wallis in a bird-stuffer's shop in Newbury, where it had been sent to be made into a fan ! It was killed in a wood near that town on or about October 25, 1877, and proved on dissection to be a male in very poor condition (Zool. 1878, p. 135). This is evidently the bird mentioned by Dr. Palmer in his paper on ' Birds of Newbury and District.' 203. Richardson's Skua. Stercorarius crepi- datus (Gmelin). Dr. Palmer had one in his possession shot at Ashmansworth near Newbury in 1883, and Mr. G. T. Phillips has the skin of another killed near Broadmoor about 1877. 204. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.). In the early part of November, 1807, a male was taken in the mill-stream at New- bury (' Ornith. Bercheria '), and another was shot at Shinfield in January, 1895 (Bradshaw in lit.). 205. Puffin. Fratercula arctica (Linn.). One was caught in Northbrook Street, 164
