204 '^^^^ Irish Naturalist. 



glad to have ascertained that the range of the Whinchat ex- 

 tended so far to the north-west of the county, for the only 

 other locality in North Mayo where I have met this bird is 

 near Killala. 



On walking along the cliffs, we found that, irrespective of 

 the great breeding-haunts in the bays, there were many 

 smaller colonies of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, and Razorbills 

 scattered all along ; and that many were passed over unnoticed 

 in consequence of not being within view from the land side, 

 it being quite impossible to see them without a boat. On the 

 east side of lyoughtmurriga, on a ledge a short way below the 

 summit of the cliff, we saw the old nest of an eagle that had 

 been robbed about four years ago ; it was an immense heap 

 of sticks, apparently composed of the thick stems and roots 

 of heather. The various rock-birds were as numerous as ever, 

 but in consequence of the Puffins being hatching inside their 

 holes, the birds sitting on the cliffs and on Moistha Island 

 did not appear in such numbers as when visited later last 

 season. 



On the land side of lyoughtmurriga, in a patch of the only 

 long heather we met, we were surprised to see a pair of Stone- 

 chats and their fulh^-fledged young flitting about. The slope 

 of the hill on which this long heather was growing had less 

 turf on it, and was drier, which was the cause of the more 

 luxuriant growth. On arriving at Porturlin we engaged a 

 curragh and four men to take us out to Pig's Island (Pig's- 

 back its local name), about half a mile to the west of the 

 harbour, a long narrow island about 150 feet high, with steep 

 sides, and having a great archway through the centre. On 

 the sheltered ledges underneath an immense colony of Kitti- 

 wakes bred, while in holes in the turf and under stones large 

 numbers of Puffins and Razorbills were hatching, and Herring 

 Gulls on the grassy top. We put a boy on the rocks, and he 

 scrambled up and got us some Puffins' and Razorbills' eggs, 

 and a clutch of Herring Gulls also, but the wind rising and 

 the sea getting up, he was obliged to hasten down, and it was 

 with great difficulty we got him safe on board again. It was 

 very provoking the wind rising and not giving time to search 

 for the Stormy Petrels that had nests in the turf over the arch, 

 and from which, some weeks later, an addled ^^'g and several 

 birds were sent to Mr. Scroope. On several rocky islets at the 



