78 The Insh Naluyalist, March, 



NOTES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Mortality of Birds during Migration. 



The following notes were copied by the Principal Keeper of Rocka- 

 bill Lighthouse for nie. out of his private fliary, as I told him I was 

 interested in the migration of biids. Its chief interest is the inference 

 from this one lighthouse record what the total mortality duritijj misfra- 

 tion must be. In a gale of wind if over 200 birds are found dead on this 

 small rock, how many hundred are blown clear off the rock into the sea .- 

 One can also see in the notes the curious double migration of Black- 

 birds. 



R. H. SCOVEI.T,. 



Shankill, Co. Dublin. 



Extracts from a Lighthouse Diary. 



Nov. 10, 1906. — Our larder was replenished lavSt night to the tune of 

 a brace of Woodcock, a pair of lady Blackbirds, a couple of Fieldfare, 

 a Thrush, and a Starling. Nov. 14.— 19 Blackbirds, 4 Thrushes, 2 Red- 

 wing, 4 Starling, and a few Larks came to grief last night. Dec. 24. — 

 Early part of the morning a lot of birds about Lantern, 5 Blackbirds and 

 6 Thrushes, also one carrier Pigeon (No. 102, Louviere, ringed in 1906, 

 very nicely marked) came to grief, they will make a nice pie for 

 Xmas, whilst oui comrade enjoys a turkey or goose ashore. Feb. 8, 

 1907.— We had rain last night, and snow and rain during the small hours 

 of the morning ; a few Redwing and Thrushes paid their respects to the 

 light about 3 a.m. March 15. — A number of vStarling, Redwing, and 

 Blackbirds about light from 7 to 9 p.m. Aprie 14.— Over a score of 

 birds killed last night. Aprie 25.— A Redstart, Goldfinch, Willow 

 Wren, and Wren caught. INIay 6.— A lot of birds struck during night, 

 10 Corncrakes killed and a number alive on Rock during day, 9 Willow- 

 wrens, and several other birds killed also. May 9 — A great number 

 of small birds struck during night, many were caught and let go in the 

 morning, amongst them were a Swift and Whinchat, Wheatears &c. ; 

 the following were killed ; — 8 Corncrakes, 28 Whitethroats, i Garden 

 Warbler, 146 Warblers (assorted), 4 Wheatears, i Blackstart, i Whinchat ; 

 about 200 killed altogether. There were a lot of crakes about the 

 Rock during day, also a couple of Redstarts ; i was caught. . . . 

 Corncrakes make very good soup, and also look well when stuffed. 

 May 9. — Eleven Corncrakes have been stuffed by keepers during past 

 few days. June 12. — A Spotted Flycatcher (.-) got . . and a Manx Shear- 

 water on Friday night. AUGUST 19. — Hawk attacked Charlie and Dick 

 (the Goldfinches) in their cage, Dick was stretched l)ut came to after the 

 Hawk was driven off. OCTOBER 5. — vSome Blackbirds and Thrushes were 

 killed during night. October 8. — Some ?31ackbirds, Thrushes and Larks 

 struck lantern this morning. October 9. — Blackbirds, Thrushes and 



