92 DUBLIN NATTJEAL HISTORY SOCIETr. 



by a person, an interesting gamekeeper in the county of Mayo, I have no doubt 

 that the bird occurred there also. Referring to the interesting remarks made 

 by Professor Allman on the curious state of the plumage of the snipe (S. galli- 

 nago) produced by him at our last meeting, I may here exhibit a specimen of the 

 jack snipe (S. gallinula), nearly white. 1 have occasionally met with examples 

 of the woodcock (S. rusticola) and common snipe, of a cream-colour, fawn, and 

 white ; but the common bunting (Emberiza miliaria) more frequently assumes 

 a mottled, pied, or nearly white appearance, as I have observed. It is much 

 to be regretted that the generality of persons residing in localities favourable 

 for ornithological pursuits are not better acquainted with the distinctive marks 

 of the commonest birds: for instance, here is a specimen of the Larida;, which I 

 have no doubt is often mistaken for the young of both the great black-backed 

 and herring gulls (Larusmarinus and L. argentatus), and, therefore, not appre- 

 ciated; whereas it is in reality a species of comparatively rare occurrence, 

 being an immature example of the glaucous gull (Larus glaucus). Some other 

 species I might with justice refer to, such as the gadwall, which, I have reason 

 to think, is often mistaken for the female of the common wild duck. The gray- 

 lag goose (Anser ferus), a bird which collectors experience considerable diffi- 

 culty in procuring in Ireland, is, I am fully persuaded, frequently confounded 

 with the bean goose (Anser segetum) ; but a little attention to the distinguish- 

 ing features, even independently of the superior size of the former, would at 

 once demonstrate its species to the most casual observer. I shall not intrude on 

 your time by further pursuing this portion of the subject, as I believe you will 

 all admit that a little practical observation would be sufficient to render parties 

 situated as I have described, not only capable of imparting knowledge to 

 others, but, probably, of adding considerably to the catalogue of our Irish birds, 

 both resident and migratory, and perhaps preventing many rare specimens from 

 being lost, and their occurrence unnoted by the naturalist. I shall conclude with 

 a few hints to those who, like myself, maybe engaged in the formation of a col- 

 lection of native birds, in the hope that those plain and simple precautions may 

 prove as beneficial to others as they have been to me. The collector should never 

 go unprovided with a basket or box, containing clean paper, cotton, and plenty 

 of plaster of Paris ; and as each bird is shot, sprinkle it with the plaster, put a 

 small piece of cotton between the wings and the body, and wrap it up separately 

 in paper. If it happens to be any species which lives on fish, such as the terns 

 gannet, carefully remove as much of the fish it has swallowed as possible, and 

 put some plaster and corrosive sublimate, or, if you are unprovided with the 

 latter, a little whiskey will do, down its throat, a bit of cotton in the mouth, and 

 lay it on its back. The reason for removing the food is, that the bird will not 

 only keep fresh longer, but unless you take these simple precautions, so much 

 blood and filthy matter will exude from the sides of the mouth as will disfigure 

 the bird greatly. I find all birds which live on fish, and hawks, require to have 

 the food removed from the crop, unless they go into the hands of the preserver 

 immediately ; by following this simple plan, your birds can be placed in the 

 hands of the taxidermist in such a state as will admit of their making handsome 

 and good specimens. I also find it a good plan to note down at the time, while 

 the bird is perfectly fresh, the colour of the irides, the bill, feet, and legs. Some 

 people, I know, are averse to colouring the bills and feet, because it is fre- 

 quently ill done or over done, but the reason is, because the exact colours are 

 not noted while the bird was quite recently killed ; and as the colours fade very 

 quickly, it is sometimes hard to tell what are the true colours. I trust the So- 

 ciety will kindly excuse me for not going more fully into the subject, as I had 

 intended, but I hope next session to make amends. 



Mr. Andrews observed that the remarks made that evening, and at the pre- 

 vious meeting, by Mr. Montgomery, could not fail to be of interest to the orni- 

 thologist, and the numerous specimens of rare birds that had been exhibited on 

 both occasions had added much to the interest of the proceedings. Mr. An- 



