74 DTTBLIN NATURAL HISTOEY SOCIETF. 



Waterford and Youghal, and to congregate in such numbers in this favoured 

 spot. I agree with Mr. Thompson, that the turnstone breeds in some instances 

 in Ireland — probably oftener than we are aware of. The following note, made 

 by me on the spot, gives some support to this opinion : — On the 10th of August, 

 1844, walking through one of the remarkable dykes which traverse the granite 

 on the coast of Connemara, and particularly well exemplified on the islands 

 called the Hards, off Roundstone, and in a frame of mind approaching bewilder- 

 ment, a bird suddenly rose, meteor-like, within a few feet of me. It would be 

 impossible to describe the beauty of its plumage as seen flying between me and 

 the sun — gold and silver blended would give but an imperfect idea of the co- 

 louring. Fortunately, the bird only in appearance resembled a meteor ; its move- 

 ments were yery dissimilar, for it immediately alighted on a rock within four 

 yards of me, and I then saw in full nuptial plumage a male turnstone. As if proud 

 of his dress, he remained perfectly at rest for at least a quarter of an hour. 

 Having eyed each other most attentively (I cannot say whether he enjoyed the 

 sight as much as I did), he at last flew a little distance, and on my reaching the 

 end of the dyke, where my boat awaited me, I saw my new acquaintance take a 

 circular sweep round a portion of the island, until he reached the spot from 

 which I had disturbed him ; and no sooner had he alighted, than I heard notes 

 as if from five or six youngsters, joyfully welcoming his return. I feel convinced 

 that the entire of this scene was enacted to draw my attention from the spot 

 where his precious charge was deposited. I should observe, before concluding, 

 that this bird is one of the very few birds common to the new and old world. I 

 had been in hopes of presenting to the notice of the Society this evening a spe- 

 cimen of the male, in nuptial plumage, from New Jersey, North America ; ano- 

 ther specimen from British Guiana, South America ; and another from the vici- 

 nity of Dublin — all those are critically alike. Not having had the advantage of 

 seeing Mr. Gould's fine work on the birds of Australia, I cannot say whether it 

 extends its range to that country or not. 



FEBRUARY 9, 1855. 



OCCURRENCE OF ICELAND GULL AND HAWFINCH. 



Mr. R. P. Williams requested permission to notice a fine specimen of the 

 Iceland gull {Larus Icelandicus), in immature plumage, which had been presented 

 to the Society through Joseph Todhunter, Esq., from Dr. Harvey, of Cork. Mr. 

 Williams said he was in expectation of the particulars of the capture of this rare 

 bird, and which he would submit at the next meeting (March 28th). 



Mr. Williams read the following communication from Dr. George Gray 

 Creighton to Dr. J. R. Harvey, of Cork, relative to the capture of the Iceland 

 gull {Larus Icelandicus), which had been presented to the Society at the Febru- 

 ary meeting : — 



" Kenmare, Feb. 23, 1855. 



** Sir, — In reply to yours of the 19th, received yesterday, the circumstances 

 connected with the capture of the Iceland gull are as follow : — Walking one day 

 last December near the Suspension Bridge, I observed, at a distance of about 

 twenty yards from the edge of the surf, a large gull settled on the water — none 

 of his own kind or others being near. 1 am not in the habit of shooting gulls or 

 other birds without an object, but the uniform whiteness this bird presented in 

 the distance induced me to go towards it and shoot it as it languidly rose at my 

 approach. My dog fetched him out apparently little injured — in fact, he lived 

 a couple of days after in the garden. I have been living at and on the sea the 

 most part of thirty years, and been in the constant habit of shooting sea birds 

 for collections, particularly at such places as Larabay, Rathlin Island, Fair 

 Head, &c., and accordingly have rumpled the feathers of many an unfortunate 

 burgomaster, saddleback, shearwater, rosy tern, &c., and a species of entirely 



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