1 86 The Irish Naturalist. September, 



how plentiful were these species. At less frequent intervals 

 the tuneful piping of a Greenshank or the whistle of a 

 Whinibrel could be detected, strangely mingled with the 

 discordant bassoon-like croak of a Cormorant, the short, snap- 

 ping bark of a Heron, or the hoarse yells set up b}^ more than 

 one species of Gull. Between the reef-island and the beach 

 the sea was thickly covered with Terns fishing. Over the 

 glass}- waters we could see in the clear atmosphere, with the 

 aid of our binoculars, the Terns below us dip to the water, 

 and without touching it, snap up flies which swarmed over 

 its surface. For quite a long time we watched the birds 

 getting food in this way, while above us were numbers of 

 Swallows and Martins also "hawking" for insects. Presently 

 a little steam-launch, passing close to the island, blew its 

 whistle, and as the startled birds took wing with cries of great 

 exicitement, we were afforded a splendid view of the enormous 

 throng which w^ere seeking a resting-place during high-water. 

 The rapidity with which the birds again alighted and the 

 incessant chorus which thej^ kept up were features of interest 

 as showing that serious disturbances from the presence of 

 shooters seldom took place. Mr. Patterson informs me that 

 in Belfast Lough, for instance, silence to a large extent 

 prevails among the flocks which are constantly harassed b}^ 

 the gunner. 



Next we were interested in watching quite a procession of 

 Herons leave the island and w4ng their waj^ leisurel}' to the 

 shore, where in the rock-pools they demolished the fr\' which 

 swarmed in countless numbers. 



Gulls, also, were beginning to congregate at the rock-pools, 

 l)Ut now as the tide was just turning we were obliged, for 

 want of time, to leave our observatory and return homeward. 

 At different points along the coast between " Long-Leg " and 

 Skerries we noticed numbers of Terns " hawking " for flies 

 over the water. 



Wednesday, September 9th. — As the day was wet and 

 stormy I did not walk more than about half-a-mile from the 

 house along the north strand. Numbers of Common Terns 

 streamed past me fishing in the rough waters. Guillemots and 

 Razorbills were numerous, but owing to the heavy breakers 

 they kept at a considerable distance from the shore. On the 



