54 PEOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Gannet {Sula bassana). — Is to be seen every summer fishing in the 

 bay ; they keep very far out, almost outside the limits of the bay. I 

 have never observed them fishing near the shore. On the 30th of Sep- 

 tember, 1851, I caught a young one, in its first year's plumage. It 

 was resting on the Bartra sands, and so exhausted as to be quite unable 

 to fly. It lived in captivity about a week. On being fed, and, after 

 satisfying its hunger, it had a very singular habit of concealing the re- 

 mainder of its food under its scapular feathers and wing-coverts, and 

 frequently, when it attempted to hide fish entrails, the long ends hang- 

 ing about its neck and shoulders gave it a most grotesque appearance. 



Sandwich Tern {Sterna cantiaca). — This is a very beautiful bird; 

 frequenting the bay and river in considerable numbers during spring and 

 summer. I have not been able to ascertain where their breeding station 

 is situated, though it cannot be very far distant from Ballina, for during 

 the breeding season they may be seen daily flying inland in that direc- 

 tion, bearing sand-eels in their bills to their mates and young. They 

 differ so much from the other terns as to the time of their spring mi- 

 gration or return, that I was induced to note the dates of their arrival 

 since 1851. They are as follows: — April 5, 1851 ; March 23, 1852; 

 April 15, 1853; March 21, 1854; Aprill, 1855; and March 20, 1856. 

 Their arrival in the river is quickly announced by their peculiarly loud 

 screams, which can be instantly recognised by the observer who has 

 once heard them. On fine, bright days they have a curious habit of 

 mounting to an immense height in the air, frequently out of sight, and 

 all the while screaming incessantly. 



Common Tern {Sterna hirundo). — This bird does not arrive in the 

 river before May. I have seldom seen them in any numbers until about 

 the middle of that month. 



Arctic Tern {Sterna Arctica). — Is also late in its summer return. 

 This bird, or the common one, breeds on some of the small islets of 

 Lough Conn. I have not been able to determine the species with cer- 

 tainty, as I have never shot any on the lake ; though, from the great 

 length of the tail feathers and the darkness of their under plumage, I am 

 inclined to think them of the Arctic species. 



Little Tern {Sterna minuta). — This elegant little tern is very rare 

 on this part of the coast. I have seen it only on three occasions ; once 

 near Kilcummin Head, when three appeared in company, and again near 

 Bartra and Scurmore. I shot a specimen on the 24th of May, 1851. 



Black -headed Gu]l{Zaru8 ridibundus). — Is very numerous throughout 

 the year ; they breed in considerable numbers on the islands of various 

 small lakes in the county of Mayo. On the 21st of May, 1851, 1 visited 

 a small bog lake, situated midway between Killala and Ballina, and 

 found these gulls breeding in great numbers on a little island in the 

 centre of the lake. On landing on it, it was with the greatest difficulty 

 we could avoid trampling on the nests with eggs, so thickly were they 

 placed all over the island. I counted upwards of 200 nests, all con- 

 taining eggs ; but not a young bird was to be seen hatched on the island. 

 The eggs of the different nests varied considerably in colour and mark- 



