t9o8. Notes. 8 1 



and valleys, Lesser Black-backs in pairs, are common, and many are to 

 be seen hanging in the keeper's " larders" of vermin. These birds— as 

 with the Herring Gulls — are almost invariably pursuing a westerly 

 course, itp the valleys. 



Similarly here, in late autumn and winter, Rooks pass at dawn, 

 continuing till about 9 or 10 a.m., and sometimes till noon, flying S.W., 

 and have been traced along the course all the way to Glasgow, some 

 dropping here and there along the railwa}' lines and other feeding 

 stations, but all returning in the " gloaming" on an easterly course. It 

 is believed that a large proportion of these Rooks belong to the huge 

 winter roost at Dunmore, and from it and to it, they appear certainly 

 to take almost bee-lines, 7y?>/^-strengths permitting. 



These notes may prove of some little interest to compare with my 

 good friend, Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger's — to whom greetings. 



J. A. Harvie-Brown. 



Dunipace, Stirlingshire. 



Morning Flight of Black-Headed Gulls. 



I live six miles from Dungarvan Ba}', and the morning procession of 

 Black-headed Gulls coming inland from the sea, as well as their return 

 towards evening, has been so long familiar to me that I have come to 

 look on it, at least in winter, much as I do on the daily round of light 

 and darkness. In the Birds of Ireland, p. 331, it is said, "As winter 

 approaches these flocks spread over the country during the day, largely 

 following the plough for the worms that are turned up, but they retire 

 towards evening to roost on some isolated sea-bank or other marine 

 retreat, if such be within reach.'' 



There is a daily flight of Rooks coming from the great rookery at 

 Dromand, in the reverse direction to the gulls, which return in a long 

 column to their home at night. The daily movements are similar, but 

 while the gulls retire at night to the seaside, the Rooks betake them- 

 selves to the greatest mass of old trees in the count}'. 



Cappagh, Co. Water ford. 



R. J. USSHER. 



Great Shearwaters and Fulmars. 



I am again favoured by Mr. George P. Farran with a series of in- 

 teresting notes of oceanic birds made during the cruises of the " Helga,^'' 

 chiefly off the Teraght, Skelliggs, and the Bull Rock, and extending to 

 40, 60, and in one case, 90 miles from land. They were made at 

 various times of the year in February, I\Iay, August, and November. 



There are thirty-three observations of Fulmars, birds which occurred 

 at all seasons, and this agrees with the reports of Mr. W. S. Green and 

 Mr. Holt, who often met with F'ulmars off the west coast of Ireland. 



