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 A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE in association with lesser black-backed gulls. (Macpherson, Fauna of Lakeland, p. 428.) 241. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus frscm, Linn. Resident, and numerous all the year round ; but now its nesting places are confined to small colonies ' on the low grounds round the estuary of the Kent ' (Mitchell) ; also on Walney Island and Foulshaw Moss, near Morecambe Bay. It formerly bred on Piling and Cockerham Mosses, but of late years it has not been observed nesting there. 242. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus marinus, Linn. Locally, Devoke Water Maw. A resident species, frequently seen on the Mersey during winter, and numerous a few miles off shore all the year round. It nests on Piling Moss in numbers, and on the Fells near Rusland, not far from Morecambe Bay (Mac- pherson, Fauna of Lakeland, p. 432). 243. Glaucous Gull. Larus glaucus, Fabricius. A very rare visitant. 244. Iceland Gull. Larus leucopterus, Faber. Seen on Duddon Estuary, 24 October, 1885. (Macpherson, Fauna of Lakeland, p. 437.) 245. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.). A resident, abundant all the year round, but because of the absence of rocks it does not nest within our boundaries. 246. Ivory Gull. Pagophila ehurnea (Phipps). This species is said to have been killed on several occasions in Morecambe Bay, but none of the records seem quite sufficiently authenti- cated ; Mr. Macpherson, however, vouches for one taken near Kendal ' within a short flight of the sea coast ' (Fauna of Lakeland, p. 438). One shot on Foulshaw Moss in 1847 '^ "°^ '" *he collection of Dr. Jackson, of Carnforth. 247. Great Skua. Megalestris catarrhactes (Linn.). A rare visitant at various seasons of the year ; but as it keeps off-shore its visits are probably not so rare as supposed. 248. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomato- rhinus (Temminck). A more frequent visitor than the great Skua. 249. Arctic or Richardson's Skua. Stercorarius crepidatus (J. F. Gmelin), A few specimens are observed in most years. 250. Long-tailed or Buffon's Skua. Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn.). A goodly number of occurrences have been recorded, but at long intervals of time. 251. Razor-bill. Alca tarda, Linn. A resident, but chiefly an off-shore living species, rarely, if ever, breeding in Lancasliire, purely through lack of such suitable localities as it finds abundantly on the Isle of Man and in N. Wales. Mitchell records evidence of the nesting of this species once on the Furness coast. 252. Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.). The guillemot, being like the razor-bill a rock-loving species, does not nest in Lancashire. It is quite commonly met with a few miles off shore. After storms it is very frequently thrown on the beach dead. 253. Black Guillemot. Uria grylle {LAnn.). An extremely rare visitor, and then generally in the winter. It would doubtless find a home on our coasts if they had been furnished with rocks, which this bird invariably loves to frequent. 254. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.). The little auk is seen mainly on our shores as flotsam and jetsam after very cold and stormy weather. Macpherson records the capture alive of specimens near Coniston and Windermere {Fauna of Lakeland, p. 446). 255. Puffin. Fratercula arctica (Linn.). Locally, Coulterneb. The puffin, like the last species, is generally seen on our shores dead after storms. It would no doubt nest in Lancashire if there were such sites as the Welsh coast and the Isle of Man provide. 256. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus glacialis, Linn. An annual winter visitant in small numbers. It is occasionally taken in nets set for ducks. 257. Black-throated Diver. Colymbus arcticus, Linn. Only a very occasional visitant. 258. Red- throated Diver. Colymbus septentri- onalis, Linn. An annual visitor in winter. 259. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes cristatus (Linn.). Locally, Diver. A resident, and numerous on our inland meres and lakes, nesting annually in suitable localities. In severe weather it frequents estuaries and the sea coast. 260. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert). Only a very occasional winter visitant, especially in severe weather. 261. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus (Linn.). Of the occurrence of this species only a few records exist ; but the bird has not been observed during the past twenty-five years. 204