156 The Irish Naturalist. September, 191 7. 



Arctic Skuas on Migration on Mutton Island, Qalway. 



and at Moville, Co. Donegal, 



On June 8th last Mr. Glanville collected on Mutton Island an Arctic 

 Skua which he was kind enough to send me for investigation. Though 

 the specimen, an adult male, was in most excellent plumage, and a beautiful 

 skin was made, nevertheless the bird was much emaciated. Curiously 

 enough, on June 13th, Mr. L. Power, light-keeper at Inishowen, found 

 another Arctic Skua in Moville. The bird had flown against a tree and 

 had injured itself. Mr. Power very kindly sent me the specimen which 

 proved to be an adult female, also in beautiful plumage, but the body was 

 very emaciated. As these two birds were picked up more or less by 

 chance there is no reason to doubt that many others, passing northwards 

 along the Irish seaboard, were in a similar state and may have died 

 unnoticed. Except when actually at their breeding-grounds. Skuas are 

 strongly pelagic, and it is customary for them to perform their migratory 

 passages some miles off the coast. Some disturbance at sea seems to 

 have been the means of depriving them of their food (small fishes obtained 

 second-hand from the crops of gulls) . Though the Arctic Skua is the one 

 most commonly met with round our coast it is nevertheless scarce as a 

 passing visitor in June as compared with the large numbers which appear 

 in autumn, especially in September and October. 



C. J. Patten. 

 The University, Sheflield. 



Wood-Warbler on Migration obtained at Maidens 

 Lighthouse, Co. Antrim. 



I am greatly indebted to Mr. John Barlow, light-keeper, for kindly 

 sending me a beautiful adult male Wood-warbler which he obtained 

 at 10.30 p.m. on May loth last at Maidens lighthouse. The bird struck 

 the lantern on a calm dark foggy night wdth rain and light east wind. 

 Numerous Sedge-Warblers, Willow- Warblers, Greater Whitethroats, and 

 a Redstart, appeared the same night, specimens of which were also for- 

 warded. The above Wood-warbler is only the second which I know of 

 which has been obtained from a light-station, and the first which has 

 actually struck a lantern. The previous specimen was shot on Blackrock, 

 Co. Mayo, on May 27th, 1890, as recorded by the late Mr. Barrington. 

 ("Migration of Birds at Irish Light-stations, Analysis of Reports," 

 1881-97, P- 76). 



C. J. Patten. 



University, Sheffield. 



