Chapter VI: Part 6

_Arran Island, South._--July 25th, fifty Sea Gulls. Nov. 27th, Sea Gulls about shore to be seen at all times.

_Tearaght._--Feb. 6th, Kittiwakes first came on rock about this time; left about Sept. 1st. "They commence to build about May 1st. On May 24th only two eggs were found among hundreds of nests. The nest-building is carried on by some after hatching has commenced with others. A difficult business this nest-making seems to be, as the mud or clay which makes up the foundation has to be carried from some soft bank. Hundreds of them are employed about six weeks at this operation, some going with the very small portion of mud they are able to take in their beaks, others coming for more, the bank covered over with more in the act of digging out. The whole is a continuous busy scene."

_Valentia._--Royal Gulls, one to four, Sept. 10th, 30th, Oct. 28th, and Nov. 10th.

_Skelligs._--Sept. 16th, observed large flocks of Kittiwakes flying S.S.W.; wind S.E. Grey Gulls noticed from September to January, and two to four Black-backed Gulls occasionally. Kittiwakes fishing in shelter of rock, Nov. 20th and Dec. 11th; wind strong gale, N.W. and W.

_Dursey Island._--Large flock of Gulls noted on April 7th, 25th, 27th, and May 5th. A few on May 27th, and at intervals to July. Large flocks on Aug. 25th and Sept. 18th, going W. Four Royal Gulls on Dec. 22nd.

Skua Gull.

_Galley Head._--Jan. 20th, flocks of five to seven Skua Gulls going W.

_Coningbeg Light-ship._--Oct. 28th, two Skuas chasing Gulls.

_Tuskar Rock._--June 7th, flocks alighted on rock four mornings in succession at same hour. Aug. 20th to 22nd, Skua Gulls in hundreds.

_Lough Swilly._--June 22nd, one "Boatswain Skua Gull."

_Valentia._--Nov. 22nd, four Skua Gulls.

Manx Shearwater.

_Barrels Rock Light-ship._--July 6th, "Mackerel Cocks" flying in different directions.

_Rathlin Island._--April 12th, Shearwater began to arrive; 22nd, more arrived.

_Tearaght._--Jan. 30th, "Mackerel Cock" in great numbers diving round rock; observed a fortnight previous to this date. Feb. 25th, "Mackerel Cock" (believed to be) left, always diving, and did not come on rock. April 5th, note of the Shearwater first heard. Nov. 21st, "Mackerel Cock" diving about the rock pretty plentifully. Not certain about this bird. The Manx Shearwater left about Aug. 1st. It was heard frequently during the summer, and always on very dark calm nights. The sounds, being frequent and distinct, were, very impressive. When the moon would rise, or it would clear, a single note was not to be heard.

Stormy Petrel.

_Coningbeg Light-ship._--Oct. 9th, five Mother Carey's Chickens caught on deck, 5 a.m.; wind light, hazy. Oct. 15th, two Stormy Petrels about ship; 28th, two caught on deck, 10.30 p.m.

_Arklow South Light-ship._--April '24th, one; wind light E.

_Tearaght._--Stormy Petrel very plentiful this year. They are not much observed until July, from which time they continue breeding until September. They make a noise which is a continuous chain of articulations, and might be heard on a calm night a distance of 300 feet; this noise is kept up by those in the holes as well as those on the wing.

_Skelligs._--Sept. 4th, two struck, 10.30 p.m., not killed; did not notice any after this date. They breed here.

Birds not Identified.

_Rockabill._--"March 6th, large bird, name unknown, killed striking, at 3 a.m.; wind N., fresh, cloudy. Had long bill, and long black legs."

_Killybegs._--April 8th, "three strange birds, name unknown. White fan-shaped tail, tipped with black; wings white, tipped with black; white ring round neck; size of Sparrow; came from seaward, and remained several days."

_Tearaght._--May 20th, "one bird, not known, about the size of a Lapwing; colour of a Grey Plover, land-bred, fan-tail, tips of feathers of tail white, chased by Crows."

_Tearaght._--Oct. 28th, "small bird, size of a Linnet; shoulders red or copper-colour; breast and belly grey, also round neck; head tufted. It remained about a week."

_Tearaght._--Nov. 18th, "a bird about the size of a Linnet came on island; above eyes a white curved streak; eyes and round eyes black; under head, round breast, a white ring, thence down belly, wings, and back of a reddish or copper-colour; some white feathers in wing; top of head black, and tail appears narrow and black. Two of these, one readily distinguished from the other."

WEST, NEWMAN AND CO., PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C.

* * * * *

Transcriber Note

Minor typos corrected. In previous editions, one locality was listed as "Farne". In this edition, there is one reference to Farne Islands (p. 54) all of the other locations are listed as "Farn" and left as is. Due to space limitations, the table on page 81 was rotated 90°.