A young bird, 8 inches long, and still carrying a few whitish downy feathers at the back of the neck, sent up by Mr M'Carron, and obtained on August 1st, has the chin and throat black. An older bird, killed on January 13th, has the chin and throat white. In Yarrell, vol. iv., p. 60, the chin and throat of a bird a week old is said to be white; and Seebohm says the young in down have the underparts greyish white.
In the report for 1884, it is stated that no Gannets perched on the Little Skellig after October 20th, and in the present report February 28th is given as the date of their reappearance on this well-known Irish breeding station.
The most interesting stations are those on small islands or rocks, or light-vessels at a considerable distance from shore; and the regular occurrence of so many land birds of apparently weak powers of flight around these lanterns is a matter of surprise to those unacquainted with the facts of migration.
We believe this inquiry has contributed not a little to enlighten the general public as to the movements of birds, some of which were partially known to ornithologists, and others suspected; but the accumulated data of the observers (making all reasonable allowances for errors in identification), are sufficient to satisfy the most sceptical of the powers of flight and endurance possessed by many small birds, and the wide range of the migratory impulse.
An effort has been made this year to shorten the Irish report, but the number of birds which strike the lights is comparatively small, compared with the large numbers arriving on the coasts of Great Britain. It is therefore all the more necessary to give the records in detail, in order to arrive at any general and trust-worthy conclusion.
To the Commissioners of Irish Lights, to the secretary, Mr Owen Armstrong; and to Captain Boxer, R.N., we continue to be under many obligations. It is, however, to the light-keepers themselves we are most indebted, since they have gratuitously placed at our disposal much of their leisure, and evinced an interest in this inquiry which could scarcely have been anticipated. Some of their names must be specially mentioned in connection with the occurrence of rare birds in the report for 1886, which promises to be an interesting one.
Alexander G. More.
Richard M. Barrington.
List of Light-Stations.
| Sp. | Au. | Miles from Shore. | Name of Observers. | |||
| 1. | Fastnet, Co. Cork, | x | o | 8 | James Walsh. | |
| 2. | Galley Head, Cork, | o | x | — | John Kelly. | |
| 3. | Old Head, Kinsale, Cork, | o | o | — | No reply. | |
| 4. | Mine Head, Waterford, | o | x | — | Hugh J. Dugan and Edward M'Carron. | |
| 5. | Dungarvan, Waterford, | x | x | — | Wm. Higginbotham. | |
| 5. | * | Coningbeg Lt.-ship, Wexford, | x | x | 10 | Patrick Cullen and William Clydesdale. |
| 6. | Barrels Rock Lt.-ship, do., | x | x | 4 | Michael Doyle and Charles H. M'Cabe. | |
| 7. | Tuskar Rock, do., | x | x | 7 | Richard Hamilton and Patrick D'Arcy. | |
| 8. | Arklow Sth. Lt.-ship, Wicklow, | x | x | 7 | Patrick Clancy and Alfred B. Wall. | |
| 8. | * | Arklow North Lt.-ship, do., | x | x | 8 | William Daly. |
| 10. | Kish Bank Lt.-ship, Dublin, | x | x | 7 | John Pinston and Thomas Cooney. | |
| 11. | Howth Baily, Dublin, | o | o | — | No reply. | |
| 12. | Rockabill, Dublin, | x | x | 5 | Joseph Hammond. | |
| 13. | Copeland (Mew) Island, Down, | x | x | 3 | John O'Donnell. | |
| 14. | Maidens, Antrim, | x | x | 5 | Michael Barry. | |
| 15. | Rathlin, Antrim, | x | x | 6 | John A. Murray. | |
| 16. | Innishtrahull, Donegal, | x | o | 6 | R. Phelan. | |
| 17. | Dunree Head, Donegal, | x | o | — | John Stapleton. | |
| 18. | Lough Swilly, Donegal, | — | x | — | James Keenan. | |
| 19. | Tory Island, Donegal, | x | o | 9 | Henry Stocker. | |
| 20. | Arranmore, Donegal, | x | x | 5 | Henry Williams. | |
| 21. | Rathlin O'Birne, Donegal, | o | x | 2 | John Scallan. | |
| 22. | Killybegs, Donegal, | x | x | — | Joseph Hill. | |
| 23. | Oyster Island, N. Sligo, | o | — | 1 | No reply. | |
| 24. | Broadhaven, Mayo, | x | x | — | Patrick Keenan. | |
| 25. | Eagle Island, E., Mayo, | o | x | 2 | Daniel Hawkins. | |
| 26. | Eagle Island, W., Mayo, | — | — | 2 | No schedule sent. | |
| 27. | Blackrock, Mayo, | x | x | 9 | John Redmond, J. Young, R. Lyons, and Edward Rohu. | |
| 28. | Point, Mayo, | x | o | — | Robt. W. Redmond. | |
| 29. | Clare Island, Mayo, | x | o | 4 | G. H. Brownell. | |
| 30. | Slyne Head, N., Galway, | x | o | 3 | Robert Tyrell. | |
| 31. | Slyne Head, S., Galway, | — | — | 3 | No schedule sent. | |
| 32. | Island, N., Galway, | x | x | 9 | Thomas Fortune. | |
| 33. | Straw Island, Galway, | x | x | 9 | Charles Boyle. | |
| 34. | Arran Island, S., Galway, | — | — | 6 | No schedule sent. | |
| 37. | Tearaght, Kerry, | x | x | 9 | Edward M'Carron and Francis Ryan. | |
| 38. | Valentia, Kerry, | x | x | — | Joseph Williams. | |
| 39. | Skelligs, Kerry, | x | x | 9 | Thomas Kerley. | |
| 40. | Dursey Island, Cork, | — | — | ½ | No schedule sent. |
Abbreviations: