56 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



observe them for about two hours each day, it is very probable that large 

 numbers passed unseen. Occasionally one would alight on the water, as 

 if fatigued, and, after resting for a minute or so, would resume its flight 

 after its distant comrades. 



It is singular, that although there were hundreds of gulls on the 

 sands and river while the skuas were passing, they never chased any, or, 

 at least, none attempting to do so came under my observation. We saw 

 a good many adults, with long tails, some having light-coloured throats, 

 and others the belly also ; but fully three-fourths of the birds in each 

 flock were immature, short-tailed, dark-coloured birds. I shot one of 

 the latter, as a small flock flew over me on the 15th ; but as I felt some 

 doubt as to the species, on account of the resemblance between the 

 young of the Richardsonii and Longicaudatus, I forwarded the specimen 

 to Belfast, to get the opinion of my much esteemed and deeply regretted 

 friend, the late William Thompson, as to which of the two species it 

 belonged; and, in reply to my inquiry, he said that the bird in question 

 was undoubtedly the young of the Lestris Richardsonii. 



On the 29th of September, 1855, I shot a young bird in its first 

 year's plumage. It frequented the river for nearly six weeks before, 

 and was a perfect torment to the sandwich terns in its vicinity. 



The foregoing is all the information I can give regarding the appear- 

 ance of the skuas in such numbers ; but whether it was a regular mi- 

 gration, or only a change of feeding-ground from one part of the coast 

 to another, I must leave to some one more experienced on the subject 

 of migration to determine. 



Fulmar Petrel {Procellaria glacialis). — An immature bird was found 

 dead on the Moyview strand, on the 24th of January, 1857 ; it was quite 

 fresh, and apparently died only six or eight hours before being found. 

 It was probably driven from the north by the very severe gale that was 

 blowing from the north-north-west for the two days and nights preced- 

 ing. 



Stormy Petrel (Thalassidroma pelagicas). — Is very rare on the river ; 

 I once saw one near the quay of Ballrna. 



After which the members proceeded to ballot, when the Rev. James 

 Mease was elected a Corresponding Member, and W. D. Babington and 

 J. Ellis, 8ch. t Ordinary Members. 



