I9I2. Patten. — Some Birds new to Ireland, 51 



Government grant for research, administered by the Royal 

 Society, which aid, here and elsewhere in my publications 

 on the subject, it is indeed a pleasure to acknowledge, 

 I hope to continue my researches for several seasons, and 

 it is a great pleasure to have made such a fruitful be- 

 ginning. 



To the Commissioners of Irish Lights I am deeply grateful 

 for permitting me to reside at the Tuskar Lighthouse, 

 while the kind hospitality shown b\^ the Head Lightkeeper 

 and his staff, and their readiness to grant me all facilities 

 when engaged in my researches, claim indeed my cordial 

 thanks. 



In regard to the specimens dealt with in this paper my 

 best thanks are due to my fellow -workers in Irish ornitho- 

 logy, Mr. Ussher and Mr. Barrington, also to Mr. Ogilvie- 

 Grant and Dr. Hartert for the careful way in which they 

 examined and compared the skins w^hen I took the latter 

 to the British Museum on October 17th last. The iden- 

 tification of the Reed-Warblers as such is established 

 beyond the vestige of a doubt. For the present I take the 

 sole responsibility of naming the Lark and Wagtail pro- 

 visionally. Both these birds will again be examined, 

 compared, and reported upon in the near future. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. 



In the upper row the Blue -headed Wagtail (No. 2), is placed between 

 the two Reed -Warblers (No. i and No. 3). 



In the lower row the Mediterranean Skylark (No. 5), is placed for 

 comparison between a male Skylark on the left (No. 4), and a female 

 Skylark on the right (No. 6). 



N.B. — The bodies of the Reed -Warblers are preserved, but have not 

 yet been dissected. The sex of the Wagtail and of the Lark is male. 

 A minute histological examination of the sex-organs of all three species 

 will be made with a view of arriving at the question regarding maturity, 

 plumage -markings alone being not altogether a reliable test. 



The University, Sheffield, 



A 2 



