Old Head, Kinsale.—April 20th, commence to build about this date.
Dungarvan.—May 29th and 30th, a great number swimming into bay; first general appearance this season. July 4th, 20th, 25th, and 31st, numbers.
Tuskar Rock.—July 24th, one young Razorbill; first this year.
Rathlin Island.—April 6th, flocks resting on the sea. Aug. 22nd, Razorbills leaving island.
Blackrock, Mayo.—April 30th, Razorbills all day; wind fresh, W.
Clare Island.—March 21st, about fifty "Razorbill-puffins"; 25th, Puffins (Razorbills?) in large numbers.
Tearaght.—March 23rd, Razorbills arrived. May 7th, came on island as plentiful as in previous years. About this date (July 31st) both old and young are mostly gone. During the past fortnight both old and young could be heard on the water at night. A few evenings ago I observed a young bird crying on the water; the old one was soon beside it, both going seaward, when the old bird made a little dive, and rose exactly under the young one, so that it was nicely poised on its back. In this way both headed the waves, and were lost in the distance. On the following evenings I kept a good look out, and saw several instances of the same kind; and on no occasion did I observe the young birds to fall off, though the sea was pretty rough. Last seen on Aug. 14th. Sept. 16th, two old and two young appeared, swimming S. Dec. 7th, young Razorbills; wind W.; very strong, high sea. As many as two or three hundred may be seen almost every day, especially in stormy weather. Having procured a specimen of the bird I called a "Mackerel-cock" (see fifth Report, pp. 89 and 128), I find it is the young Razorbill. [Specimen sent.—R. M. B.; shot, 13th, Jan., 1885.] It comes here every winter, and not a single old bird is to be found amongst them; nor one of them among the old birds in summer.
Skelligs.—March 20th, Razorbills first seen on rock. July 20th, noticed young fledged Razorbills leaving rock. Aug. 5th, all left, with one or two exceptions. Nov. 27th, great numbers of the "Black-billed Auk"; noticed flights of them for the past fortnight, flying S., mostly in the afternoon. They left on 2nd March, 1885, except one or two, seen on 16th inst. They only come close to the rock in wild weather. In my former report I called this bird the Razorbill; but it answers the description of the Black-billed Auk, in the 'Dictionary of British Birds.' [Doubtless the young Razorbill, which was erroneously regarded as a species under the title of "Black-billed Auk" by Colonel Montagu.—R. M. B.] December, a great number of "Black-billed Auks" fishing.
Cormorant.
Dungarvan.—July 31st, several.