The Birds of Rathlm Island^ Co. Antrim, 71 



*Cuculiis canoriis, L. — Cuckoo. A constant summer visitor. A young 

 bird, recently fledged, was found in a deserted nest in August, 1883. 

 Frequently observed by light-keepers; earliest date noted, April 2otli. 



Strix flammea, L. — Barn-Owi,. Formerly known as resident and 

 breeding in holes in the rocks ; now very rarely seen. 



Asio otus, Iv. — Long-eared Owi,, Very rare; one was shot 14th June, 

 1853, and another was caught alive in April, 1863. 



A.^ accipitrinus, Pallas. — Short-eared Owi,. Has once occurred, 

 in November, 1879, when a fine specimen was shot. 



Circus seruginosus, L. — Marsh-Harrier. Seen by the late R. Gage, 

 12th June, 1867, searching for prey in one of the marshes at the west 

 end of the island. A bird supposed to be of this species was seen by 

 several people in the autumn of 1891. 



Buteo vulgaris, Leach, — Common Buzzard. One was caught alive 

 with a broken wing below the cliffs on the north side, 28th February, 

 1845. Another was found dead in March, 1879. These are the only 

 known occurrences. 



Halisetus albicilla, L. — Sea-Bagi<e. This bird was formerly a con- 

 stant resident, and bred in the rocks on the north side of the island, 

 but owing to the havoc it committed on young lambs it was shot 

 down and the nests robbed. It has not been seen for some years. 

 Thomj^son, writing in 1849, says "In the island of Rathlin the Sea- 

 Eagle is said to have an eyrie." I have not been able to find the date 

 of the last attempt to breed. 



Accipiter nisus, L. — Sparrow-Hawk. Occasionally seen following 

 small birds. In October, 1867, one was seen by the land-steward 

 pursuing a thrush, which it followed into his kitchen, breaking a pane 

 of glass in the window. 



Falco islandus, Gmelin. — Icei<and Fai^con. A fine specimen was 

 seen hovering over a sheep-farm, and was shot by the shepherd, on 

 March 9th, 1865. Its extreme length was 20 inches. 

 *P. peregrinus, Tunstall. — Peregrine Fai^con. A constant resident, 

 breeding in the cliffs at the north side of the island. Two pairs are 

 known to breed regularly there. 



P. sesalon, Tunstall.— Meri<in. The only occurrence of this little 

 falcon was on the loth December, 1888, when one was caught alive in 

 a house into which it had pursued a bird. , 

 *P. tinnunculus, L. — Kestrei<. Very common; breeds on cliffs all 

 round the island. On the 2nd June, 1889, my cousin, Mr. Praeger, 

 took a curious clutch of four eggs. They were white, mottled very 

 slightly with reddish-brown, and the texture was exceedingly rough. 



Fhalacrocorax carbo, L. — Cormorant. Once very common at the 

 Bull Rock, where they bred in the caves. They are only occasionally 

 seen now, and have ceased to breed. An unusually large one taken 

 alive in 1867, disgorged a Wrasse 14 inches long, 10 inches in girth, 

 and 2 lbs. weight. 

 *Plialacrocorax graculus, L. — Shag. Very common, and breeds regu- 

 larly in the caves near the Bull Rock ; also at the north side of the 

 island. 



Sula bassana, L. — Gannet. Often "seen fishing about the island 

 during the autumn, and frequently reported by the light-keepers. 

 Young birds have been picked up on the beach after storms, and I 

 observed adults flying over the island in June." 



Ardea cinerea, L. — Common Heron. Many frequent the shores and 

 reedy marshes, where small eels abound. Some of the inhabitants 

 say they breed on the island, but Mr. Gage never saw a nest. 



Anser cinereus, Meyer. — Grey Lag-Goose. Only seen in hard winters. 

 One was shot in a field in October, 1867, and an adult female, weighing 

 8 lbs., was shot in January, 1867, on one of the loughs. 



A. albifrons, Scopoli — White-fronted Goose. Has been seen in the 

 bay, near the shore, although a specimen has not yet been obtained. 

 A single bird was observed in November, 1891. 



