Slyne Head, North.—"Very few land birds seen this winter. The sea-fowl are about the island at all times. The number of birds striking lantern is less than preceding year."—Robert Tyrrell.
Arran Island, North.—"During August a great number of Sandlarks, Sea-pie, Curlew, and Titlarks, remained on island. Puffins, Gannets, Gulls, and Cormorants flying past occasionally. Redshanks, Sea-pie, Sandlarks, and Curlew during fine weather remain on island; when rough they go to the big island of Arran."—Thomas Fortune.
Straw Island.—"Spring: The following species were never so scarce:—Gulls, Gannets, Puffins, and Sea-pies. I have never seen so few birds early in spring, but as the spring advanced the numbers of Linnets, Fieldlarks, Stonechats, and Yellowhammers increased so much that I have not seen such numbers for many years past. The different species of Gull and Cormorant remain throughout the year; they breed on the cliffs on the large island of Arran. No birds ever strike this lantern, the light being red, and not showing in the direction of the general flight of birds. Autumn: I have noticed fewer birds than usual. The Cormorant, White-backed Gull, and Royal Gull are the only species remaining during the winter. A number of small birds, such as Thrushes, Blackbirds, Starling, Linnets, &c., frequently fly from the mainland, especially in severe weather. All through the autumn to the present (Dec. 30th) I have remarked flights of wild Duck and Barnacle going N.E."—Charles Boyle.
Tearaght.—"I heard the Manx Shearwater for the first time this year on the night of April 10th, but as usual the note ceased after the moon rose. I have not seen any of the 'Mackerel Cock' since March 29th. [A specimen of 'Mackerel Cock' sent Jan., 1885, was a young Razorbill in winter plumage.—R. M. B.] Birds remaining on the island on July 31st:—Sea-parrots, Razorbills, Guillemots (only a few), Kittiwakes, Royal Gulls, and the large White Gulls, Stormy Petrels, Sea-pies, Choughs, and Hooded Crows. Birds remaining Jan. 15th, 1885:—Razorbills (young), Kittiwakes (old), Royal Gulls, Herring Gulls (young and old), Chough, Hooded Crow, Wrens, Titlarks, Rock Pipit, Peregrine Falcon, Sparrow-Hawk, Mountain Linnet (Twite), Gannets, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Rock Pigeon, and Cormorants. Those in italics are always here. The Herring Gull was called previously 'large white Gull.' I wish to draw special attention to the great number of 'Crows' which passed over this island from the 5th to the 25th Nov. They were flying at a height of seven or eight hundred feet. When passing this island their flight would become irregular. Some rested for a little while, and a few were to be seen some days afterwards having a tired appearance." [I expressed a doubt about the identification of the species to Mr. McCarron.—R. M. B.] He then wrote:—"I was standing within ten paces of one several minutes, and it had not the excrescence round the base of bill, and I think I am correct in saying it was not the Rook." [Neither Mr. More nor myself have ever seen a freshly killed Irish specimen of the Carrion Crow. In the 3rd 'Report on Migration,' p. 86, large flights of Rooks coming from the sea in a S.W. direction are mentioned as occurring at Blackrock Lighthouse, nine miles off Mayo.—R. M. B.]
Eagle.
Clare Island.—April 4th, a young speckled Eagle perched at noon on a pinnacle of cliff about two hundred yards from lighthouse, then went to its eyrie in the highest cliffs. The two Eagles are here still in their usual abode in the highest cliffs. Nov. 20th, large Eagle close to station.
Tearaght.—Jan. 16th, 1885, one passed from E. in front of dwellings, and round west of island, when it rose to a great height and moved steadily N.E. towards mainland, accompanied for some distance by three Choughs and a Peregrine Falcon, which appeared mere specks beside it. Frost and snow on Kerry mountains.
Greenland Falcon.
Blackrock, Mayo.—March 10th, one Greenland Falcon about all day; wind S.W., strong, snow showers. The Falcon was shot, and was much smaller than the other one, only in better condition. [The "other one" probably refers to the specimen entered in the schedule for 1883; see 5th Report, p. 90.—R. M. B.]
Tearaght.—March 23rd, one Greenland Falcon shot 10 a.m.; wind S., light, clear; length from tips of wings, 48½ inches; from beak to tail, 22 inches; weight, 3 lbs. 6. oz. March 24th, one seen to-day devouring a sea-parrot. April 2nd, one shot, smaller and whiter than the bird killed on March 23rd. April 7th, two to-day, each time pursued by Crows. April 21st, a very large one pounced upon a sea-parrot and carried it off to an adjoining island. [The specimens killed on March 23rd and April 2nd were recorded in Report for 1883.—R. M. B.]