142 7 he Irish NaturalisL August, 



Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatchers, Willow -Warblers, Chiff- 

 chaffs. 



In all then I obtained five Grasshopper -Warblers during 

 my eight weeks' residence at the Tuskar Rock lighthouse, 

 and I feel confident, despite my prolonged nocturnal vigil- 

 ations on the balcony, that even with the aid of a search- 

 er flash-lamp, I let a great many examples of this species 

 pass by unnoticed. If we now refer to Mr. Barrington's 

 " Migration of Birds," (Analysis of Reports, 1881-97, pp. 

 67, 68), we find that the number of specimens which he 

 received is remarkably small. He states that " the whole 

 number of specimens forwarded within the past fourteen 

 years amounts to nine, of which eight were obtained on 

 spring migration, and one in autumn, and all occurred in 

 different years except two which struck at the Tuskar, April 14th, 

 1898." ■'■ When one thinks of the numbers of lightkeepers 

 with whom Mr. Barrington has been in touch, it is at once 

 obvious that this warbler must have escaped observation 

 to a marked degree. But if the behaviour of the Grasshopper 

 Warbler at the lantern, as I have described in five instances 

 is typical of its behaviour under such conditions, then we 

 can readily understand how it was that Mr. Barrington 

 received so few specimens. For, as already pointed out, 

 unless one is incessantly prowling about on the balcony 

 at night, more than one example of this skulking bird might 

 be at the lantern and yet not attract notice. As mentioned 

 in a previous article when dealing with the migration of the 

 Wren at the Tuskar lighthouse and rock,^ I reiterate that 

 it is not obligatory for the lightkeeper on watch to spend 

 much of his time out on the balcony. Indeed he has many 

 duties to perform which prevent him going out, and especi- 

 ally for long intervals at a time. In regard to the sex of the 

 five, birds which I obtained the following is the result : — 

 No. I, September i6th, 1911, Female ; No. 2, April 12th, 

 1912, Male ; No. 3, April 20th, Male ; No. 4, April 22nd, 

 Male ; No. 5, May 4th, Female. In all five cases the 

 gizzards were quite empty. 



The University, Sheffield. 



I The italics are mine. I wish to lay emphasis on this point. 

 Supra^ pp. 125-130, 



