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RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE EIST OF IRISH BIRDS. 



BY A. G. MORE, F.I,.S. 



The last two years have been remarkably productive in rare 

 birds; and since December 1889, when the second edition of 

 my list was published, no less than nine species have been 

 added to the Irish avifauna. All these have been recorded at 

 various dates, and four of them have been commented on by 

 Mr. Seebohm, in T/ie Ibis, for October, 1891, but the present 

 seems a good opportunity for bringing together the whole, so 

 as to review the progress which has been made in so short a 

 time. The nine birds are: — 



1. Sylvia nisoria, Bechst. — Barrkd Warbi^er. One was 

 obtained near Belmullet, Mayo, so long ago as the 24tli September, 

 1884, and luckily fell into the hands of the veteran ornithologist, 

 Dr. J. R. Biirkitt who, being doubtful of the name, gave the speci- 

 men to Mr. R. J. Ussher, and the bird was then referred to me for 

 identification. It is now in the Science and iVrt Museum {Zoologist, 

 1890, p. 310). 



2. Sylvia curruca, Linn. — LESSER WkitEThroaT. A single 

 specimen was obtained by Mr. R. M. Barrington from the 

 Lighthouse on Tearaght Rock, Kerry, where it was taken on the 

 ist October, 1890 [Zoologist, 1891, p. 310). This is a striking example 

 of a bird breeding freely in many parts of England, extending 

 northwards to the South of Scotland, but which, up to the present 

 time, has not even appeared as a rare visitor in Ireland. Like the 

 Nightingale (of which also there is only a single occurrence re- 

 corded in Ireland), the Reed Warbler and Tree-Pipit, as well as the 

 Lesser Whitethroat, seem, during the autumnal migration, to find 

 a more direct route to the Continent, and do not make their way 

 westward into Ireland, while, apparently, the rare stragglers which 

 visit Ireland in the late autumn, must come from a greater distance 

 than the opposite shores of Great Britain. Some, like the Yellowr 

 browed Warbler, from far eastward; others, like the Black Redr 

 start in Ireland, and the Fire-crested Wren in Great Britain, from 

 the nearer portion of the European Continent. 



3. Pliylloscopus superciliosus, J. F. Gmel. — Yei,i.ow-brcwed 

 W^-vrbi,er. One at the Tearaght Rock Lighthouse, 14th October, 



1890, now in the collection of Mr. R. M. Barrington, making the 

 fourth British specimen {Zoologist, 1 891, p. 186). 



4r. Calandrella brachydactyla, Leisl. — Short-Toed Lark. 

 One captured at the Blackrock Lighthouse, Co. Mayo, nth October, 

 1890 {Zoologist, 1891, p. 186). I shall never forget the occasion when 

 my friend, Mr. R. M. Barrington, produced from one small bag 

 three such extraordinary prizes as the vShort-toed Lark, the Yellow- 

 browed Warbler, and a Red-breasted Fl3'catcher, which he had just 

 received from his correspondents at the Irish Lighthouses. 



5. Turdus migratorius, Linn. — American Robin. An adult 

 male, shot at vSpringmount, vShankill, Co. Dublin, 4th May, 1891, 

 v.-as brought to me when quite fresh, by Mr. E. Williams {Zoologist, 



1891, p. -219). One more to be added to the nineteen Americaii 

 birds, which have been obtained in Ireland. It is now in the 

 Dublin INIuseum. 



6. Falco cenchris, Naum.— LESSER Kestrei.. One shot a£ 

 Shankill, Co. Dublin, 17th February, 1891, had been noticed several 



