192 The Irish Naturalist. SeptemWr. 



for the shore. Curlews, Oyster-catchers, Green. Golden, and 

 Ringed Plovers, and Redshanks were present in large numbers, 

 and as we proceeded homeward along the rocks we were 

 attracted bv an erratic Redshank which t)ersisted in flvins: 

 I'ound our heads uttering a screeching note quite unlike the 

 usual pipe. It was a tame innocent bird, evidently unaccus- 

 tomed to man's presence, and with the glass we could make 

 out that its legs were yellowish. I took it to be an immature 

 bird, of a late brood, which was crying in loneliness for its 

 parents. We noticed Wood-pigeons at different points rise 

 from the strand ; what brought these birds here I found out 

 some days later. As we clambered over the slippery rocks 

 near Barnageara we observed three Grey Wagtails. Having 

 reached the sandy beach of this locality we made for the road, 

 reaching home at 7.30 p.m., after a most enjo3'able outing. 



Wednesday, September i6th. — Rain fell heavily almost all 

 day, and no further notes on birds were added to my journal. 

 I spent my time preserving the skins of some Guillemots and 

 Razorbills. 



Thursday. September 17th. — I observed immense numbers 

 of Terns fishing off the shore near Holmpatrick and round 

 Shinnick Island. 



Frida}', September i8th. — At 7 a.m. I observed a Sparrow- 

 Hawk fly over our house and then descend toward the 

 rocks. A startled Pied Wagtail flew out to sea and escaped 

 being pursued. The hawk disappeared over the fields. The 

 da\' turned out wet, and I added nothing further to ni}^ notes. 



Saturday, September 19th. — I was pleased to hear the cry 

 of a Greenshank at 11.30 p.m. The bird was quite close on 

 a rock behind the house, but the night was too dark to locate 

 its form. It was the only Greenshank which I recorded from 

 Skerries during my visit. 



Sunday, September 20th. — The day was warm but rather 

 misty, but it cleared up in the afternoon. The sea was as 

 smooth as a sheet of polished glass. Between our house and 

 M.ady-Bay' great numbers of Terns were fishing. It was 

 interesting to see these birds now and again plunging between 

 little gatherings of Razorbills, which they scattered. In ' Lady- 

 P,ay ' the Razorbills came quite close to the water's edge, and 

 so clear was the water that we could see the birds descending 



