go * TJic Irish NaliiralisL Marcli, 1909. 



Birds seen from the ' • Helga " off the south-west Coast. 



Since my previous communications {Irish Naturalist, 1907, pp. 163, 184), 

 I have received a series of notes, through the kindness of Mr. G. P. 

 Farran, of the birds observed off the coasts of western Cork and Kerry 

 when from twenty to eighty miles from land. From these I take the 

 following particulars :— 

 Great Skuas. — August and November, 1907, November, 1908. 

 Pomatorhine Skuas — August and September, 1907 ; and in October, 



1907, aff Carlingford. 

 Buffon's Skua.— September, 1907. 



Great Shearwaters.— In 1907, February and May (none), August (many).. 



September (a few), November (several). 

 In 1908, January and Februar}- (none), August 

 (two), November (many). 

 Fulmars. — In 1907, "May (a few, scarcer than usual and nearer to 



shore, e.g. |-mile off the Great Skellig) 

 August (many) September (a few), No- 

 vember (many). 

 In 1908. — ^January and February (a few), August (many), 

 November (a few). 

 Taking the whole series of notes, including 1906. we find that : — 

 Great Skuas have been noticed in February, May, August, and in two 



Novembers (that is, in November^in 

 different years). 

 Pomatorhine Skuas ,, in May, August, September, October, 



and November. 

 Buffon's Skuas ,, in August and vSeptember. 



Great Shearwaters ,, from August to November in three suc- 



cessive years, but not in January, 

 Februar}-, or INlay. 

 P'nlmars ,, in January, two P'ebruaries, two Mays, 



three Augusts, one September, and in 



three Novembers ; in short whenever 



the Helga cruised off the S. W. coast, 



and sufficiently far from land. The 



birds were quite tame, and have come 



within a couple of yards of the ship, 



picking at scraps which were thrown 



to them. 



These facts go to show that, while the Great Shearwater visits the part 



of the Atlantic near Munster from August to November, the Fulmar may 



be met with there at all seasons. 



Information as to the months not mentioned above is wanting, as the 

 Helga does not then appear to have been off the coast. 



R. J. T'SSHRR. 

 Gappagh, Water ford. 



