492 British Association for the Advancement of' Science. 



tier in which the fossilized remains of the Vertebrata occur in the 

 stratified deposits : 1. Fishes, 2. Reptiles, 3. Birds, 4. Mammalia. From 

 the same consideration results the following arrangement of the re- 

 presentative groups among these last : 1 . Cetacea, 2. Buminantia, 

 &c, 3. Camivora, 4. Man, who thus in a twofold aspect becomes 

 the culminant point of the animal creation. 



Observations on the Zoology of the Island of Bathlin, off the North- 

 ern Coast of Ireland. By James Drummond Marshall, 

 M.D. 



The zoology of Rathlin does not offer any new species in addition 

 to those hitherto found on the opposite coast of the county Antrim, 

 and this notice was laid before the Association rather to mark the 

 habitats of some species than to add anything to what is already 

 known. 



The only Mammalia frequenting the island are, the Norway Rat, 

 the Common Mouse, the Shrew Mouse, and the Hare. The latter 

 is but rarely seen, and not being able to procure a specimen, the au- 

 thor cannot say whether it is the hare of Great Britain or that 

 lately ascertained to be a species, or rather perhaps a variety, pecu- 

 liar to Ireland. 



In Ornithology, so far as the author could ascertain, there are about 

 60 species, comprising 32 land and 28 water birds. From the situation 

 of the island, its precipitous cliffs, and the consequent facilities for 

 incubation, many species of water birds choose it for a summer re- 

 sidence. The most common species are the Larus Bissa, Larus 

 argentatus, Larus Canus, Alca Torda, Fratercula arctica, Uria 

 Troile, Uria Grylle, Phalacrocorax Carbo, Phalacrocorax cristatus. 



Although all the above-mentioned species are plentifully distri- 

 buted, the Larus Bissa, or Kittiwake, is by far the most numerous ; 

 every headland round the northern shore of the island was tenanted 

 by this common though beautiful species. In company with it were 

 found the Alca Torda, Fratercula arctica, and Uria Troile, all 

 living in harmony with each other ; the Puffins occupied the earthy 

 patches which here and there occurred between the basalt and lime- 

 stone of which the rocks are chiefly composed, while the three for- 

 mer tenanted every pinnacle and ledge of rock not otherwise oc- 

 cupied. The Uria Grylle inhabited one of the headlands on the 

 southern extremity of the island ; but their numbers were by no 

 means equal to those of the Uria Troile or Area Torda. The my- 

 riads of fry of different species of fish, particularly the Launce, or 

 Sand-eel, furnish an ample supply of food to the various sea-fowl 

 frequenting Rathlin. 



The Fishes of this island do not differ from those found on the 

 northern shores of Ireland. One of the most common species is the 

 Coal-fish (Gadus carbonarius). This on the Irish coast is called, 

 in its different stages of growth, Pickoc, Blochan, Glashan, and Grey 

 Lord, and corresponds, according to Dr. Neill, to the Sillock and 



