Birds observed Breedmg on the Coasts of Sligo and Mayo. i8i 



ledges ; and, irrespective of the birds sitting by their nests, we 

 counted over a hundred resting on a low fiat reef at the base 

 of the cliff, while fully as many more were on the water. 

 Razorbills and Guillemots were in thousands, perfectly in- 

 numerable, thickly packed together on the ledges, while the 

 sea was dotted over with numerous flocks, varying in numbers 

 from five to a hundred individuals in each flock. The 

 Kittiwake Gulls were in two large colonies, one on a range 

 of cliff about three hundred yards in length, and the other on 

 one about fifty or sixty yards shorter ; while on a space of a 

 hundred yards between the two, was located a colony of 

 Herring Gulls numbering about fifty pairs of birds. 



The only other birds seen about were Rock Pigeons and Jack- 

 daws, frequenting the caves and holes, while Ringed Plovers 

 with their young ones were running about the bare edges 

 of the cliff where the winter storms had worn away the soil. 

 Choughs were said to have bred here some years ago, but no 

 trace of them was to be seen on the occasion of my visit on 

 the 22nd of July, 1891. On a visit to this head on the 9th of 

 June, 1893, 1 saw nothing new at the breeding-haunt, although 

 I had the advantage of viewing the sea- face of the cliffs from 

 a boat. 



Killeenduff cliffs, situated about three miles from the little 

 town of Easky, are a bold range about 100' feet high, and 

 although most favourably circumstanced for the breeding of 

 seafowl, are only frequented by a few pairs of Green Cor- 

 morants, and Rock Pigeons in the caves ; a colony of House 

 Martens having their nests in the face of the cliff, the nests 

 looking like little dabs of mud stuck against the rock. 



After leaving Killeenduff" no rock-breeding birds are to be 

 met with until Killcummin Head, the western boundary of 

 Killala Bay in the County Mayo, is reached, where a few pairs 

 of Green Cormorants nest, as well as some Jackdaws, and 

 Starlings ; a pair of Peregrine Falcons had an eyrie in the 

 highest part of the cliff", and about thirty years ago a pair of 

 Choughs also bred there. 



On Killala Pool (the inner part of the bay) several pairs of 

 Black Guillemots are to be seen throughout the year, and 

 probably breed in the cliffs between Kilcummin Head and 

 L^ackin Bay. 



