DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 55 



ings, the ground-colour of some being exceedingly dark, while others 

 were quite light. 



Kittiwake Gull (Zarus tridactylus). — Is very abundant in the bay 

 during the summer ; they build in great numbers on the rocky cliffs of 

 Downpatrick Head, seven or eight miles west of Killala. 



Common Gull (Zarus canus). — Is to be seen in considerable numbers, 

 and particularly so in winter. The greater part appear in the adult plu- 

 mage. I know of but one breeding station in this part of the country, 

 and that is at Lough Talt, a small lake in the Ox Mountains, situated 

 about twelve miles from the sea. Four or five pair bred there in 1855, 

 and, as the proprietor has them strictly protected from molestation, it is 

 to be hoped that they will increase in numbers each succeeding year. 



Herring Gull {Zarus argentatus). — Is common and numerous through- 

 out the year ; they breed in considerable numbers on the precipitous 

 cliffs of Downpatrick Head. 



Lesser Black-backed Gull (Zarus fuscus). — This bird is not common 

 on this part of the coast. I have seen but few individuals of the species, 

 and only single birds. 



Great Black-backed Gull (Zarus marinus). — Is very common through- 

 out the year. They have a breeding station at Downpatrick Head. 

 Twelve or fourteen pairs rear their young on the flat, grassy summit of 

 the pillar- like rock near the Head. This gull is much more plentiful 

 here than I have ever observed them on the south coast, in the vicinity 

 of Cork Harbour. 



Iceland Gull (Zarus islan&icus). — Is sometimes seen. On the 4th 

 of December, 1851, I shot an immature specimen, as it was flying with 

 some herring gulls over the sands at the north side of Bartra. I also 

 saw another, near Bartra, on the 9th of December, 1854, and a third 

 near Moyview, on the 7th of May, 1855. It flew within eighteen or 

 twenty yards of where I was sitting, and, from the whiteness of its plu- 

 mage, I should say that it was adult. Immature birds, when seen on 

 the wing, appear of a light-cream colour, and they fly more buoyantly 

 than any of our other large gulls. 



. Richardson's Skua (Zestris Richardsonii). — Skuas are sometimes 

 seen in very large numbers in the month of October, on their passage 

 to the south-west. They were observed by my brother, Mr; Edward H. 

 Warren, to take the same course eveiy October, from 1851 to 1855, 

 during which years he resided at Bartra, and, as they always crossed the 

 island when coming from the sea, he had excellent opportunities for 

 observing the direction of their flight. Some years they appear in 

 greater numbers than in others ; but we never remarked them to be so 

 numerous as in October, 1851. "We first observed them on the 8th of 

 that month, when two flocks, of six and eight birds, were seen flying 

 towards the south-west; again, on the 15th, we counted seventy-two, as 

 they came from the open sea, in small, detached flocks, and at irregular 

 intervals, but all held steadily on the same course, right across the 

 country. On the following morning they appeared more numerous, and 

 I counted over 100 in a very short space of time. As I was only able to 



