1909- Patten. — 0}nitholoQ;y of Skerries, Co. Dublin. 201 



Achill. To the ornithologist it is at once manifest that the 

 sea and its beach between Skerries and Balbriggan, with which 

 may be incUided the islands^ teem with bird-life. In the pre- 

 sent article I have endeavoured to bring to light as many new 

 facts as could be obtained regarding the habits of many of our 

 familiar coast-birds ; also to emphasise what may have alread}' 

 been noticed but perhaps too casually. Lastly, I have suc- 

 ceeded in adding a few new records of occurrences of species 

 along this particular part of the Dublin coast. 



In conclusion let me say, that the question often arises in my 

 mind, shall I, after so many years' observations on the habits 

 of our common shore birds, continue to gather new facts'? By 

 patient observation I believe I shall, for it seems to me that the 

 more diligently one studies these attractive creatures the more 

 one is convinced that the}" possess the faculty of elaborating 

 their lives, according as circumstance suggest, to a far greater 

 extent than many of us dare conceive. 



The University, Sheffield. 



THE AVIFAUNA OF SKERRIEvS 



I^ISTKD BY MR. EDGAR WILKINS 



Pied Wagtail. Much more coui- 

 mon than the Grey Wagtail. 



Rock- Pipit. Frequent. 



Meadow-Pipit. 



Spotted Flycatcher. 



Chaffinch. 



Goldfinch. Fairly frequent. 



Greenfinch. 



Bullfinch. Much less common than 

 the Goldfinch. 



Linnet. 



Rather uncommon. 

 At the 



Frequent. 



vSong-Thrush. 



INIissel-Thrush. 



Blackbird. 



Redbreast. 



Wheatear. In autumn common 

 on the beach, on the Islands 

 and at the '• Bog of the 

 Ring.' 



Sedge-Warbler. 



Willow- Warbler. 



Chiff"chaff. 



Whitethroat. 



Hedge,-Sparrow. 



Goldcrest. 



Wren. 



Blue Titmouse. 



Coal-Titmouse. 

 Long-tailed Titmouse. 



Great Titmouse. 



Grey Wagtail. 



Lesser Redpoll. 

 Reed Bunting. 



Ring." 

 Corn Bunting. 

 Yellow-Bunting. 

 House-Sparrow. 

 Skylark. 

 Starling. 



"Bog of the 



Rook. 

 Jackdaw. 



* No remark following the name signifies that the species is common 

 in the locality. 



