1909- VATt-E^.— Ornithology of Skerries, Co. Dubliju 189 



the Razorbills, swimming under the water, often nipped the 

 Gulls' feet in their beaks. Once or twice we saw a Razorbill 

 in the act of releasing its hold as the Gull's foot came above 

 the water. We further noticed that a Razorbill always 

 appeared on the surface when a Gull sprang out of the water. 

 The Gulls never then took the offensive nor tried to defend 

 themselves in any way : they just then went back to the water 

 and got bitten again." Reaching Barnageara we carefully 

 scanned all the flocks of wading birds, but failed to discover a 

 Curlew-Sandpiper among them. On our return we had a 

 splendid view^ of two adult Gannets fishing only about two 

 hundred yards from the shore. The swarms of old and young 

 Razorbills and Guillemots did not seem to mind these great 

 birds precipitating themselves head foremost among them 

 from a height in the air into the water. 



Monda}', September 14th. — The greater part of the day was 

 spent in the National Museum, Dublin, comparing the skins 

 of Guillemots with the specimen which I obtained at Skerries 

 two days before. I am much indebted to Dr. ScharfF and 

 Messrs. Nichols and Halbert for the kind assistance they 

 gave. In none of the Museum specimens were the axillaries 

 and under wing-coverts chequered boldly ; indeed, the dark 

 markings were very faint or entirely absent, leaving these 

 feathers wholly white, nor were the feathers of the upper parts 

 black and glossy. I found that, in my specimen, the beak 

 was a little longer and stouter, while the wing measurement 

 also exceeded that of any of the Museum birds. However, in 

 a specimen labelled Brunnich's Guillemot, the beak was 

 much shorter and thicker than in my specimen. Other 

 differences in the plumages could be made out, but the details 

 hardly concern us in the present paper. To put it shortly, I 

 may sa}- that I formed no definite conclusion regarding my 

 specimen, though I lean to the notion that its peculiarities of 

 plumage represent a certain phase rather than a variety or 

 race form of the Common Guillemot. Later on I hope to 

 write further on the subject. On showing the bird to Mr. W. 

 Williams, of Dame-street, he informed me that a few like it 

 had passed through his hands, though he had not a specimen 

 at the time to compare it with. He suggests that the gloss}- 

 black back may be the new winter plumage; which afterwards 



