1S98.] Patten. — The Birds of Dicblin Bay, 237 



Sterna minuta, Linn. Lesser Tern.— Frequent on North Bull in 

 summer, and remaining to breed during some seasons; maybe dis- 

 tinguished from previous two species by its inferior size. The Terns 

 may be distinguished from the Gulls by their smaller bodies, short 

 legs, very small feet, long pointed wings, forked tails, and quicker 

 and more beating flight. 



Larus rldlbundus, Linn. Bi^ack-headed Gui^i,. — Common in 

 Dublin Bay all the year round. After the autumn moult the 

 plumage of the head becomes white. The young have splashed 

 patches of brown on their back. Legs and beak of adult deep red. 



L. can us, Linn. Common Gur.i<. — Abundant in autumn and winter. 

 A few non-breeding examples remain throughout the summer as 

 shown by anatomical investigation. This summer (1898) there was 

 an unusually large number of non-breeding Common Gulls in 

 Dublin Bay. The birds of the first year are dun colour. The adult 

 in summer has a pure white head in winter; it is speckled grey. Feet 

 and beak green. 



L. arerentatus, Gmel. Herring Gui.Iv. — Plentiful at all times. 

 Characters familiar. Young dark greyish brown all over. 



L. fuscus, Linn. Lesser Black-backed Gui.Iv.— Common, but not 

 numerous, all the year round. Characters familiar. Head becomes 

 speckled in winter. 



L. marl n us, Linn. Great Bi.ack-backed Gui.1..— Often found in 

 the bay but never numerous. Distinguished from last species by its 

 superior size. Head becomes speckled in winter. 



L. gflaucus, O. Fabricius. Gi^aucous Gui.!.. — Very rare and uncertain 

 visitor to Dublin Bay. A fine specimen was shot on the 14th 

 September, 1894, by Dr. N. H. Alcock, at the North Bull {vide Irish 

 Times and Daily Express, September 20, 1894). The large size of 

 this bird and the absence of black tips on the primary wing-feathers 

 at once distinguish it at any time of year. The colour of the young 

 bird is a light faintly speckled yellowish grey ; the old bird gradually 

 turns white. 



L. tridactyla, Linn. Kittiwake Gui.i.. — Common all the year round 

 preferring deeper waters than the other species. In summer the 

 plumage is identical with the Common Gull, but the legs of the 

 former are blackish and shorter in length. The young Kittiwake is 

 splashed on the back with black feathers. The head of the adult in 

 winter turns greyish blue. 



Xema Sablnl, J. Sabine. Sabine's Gui<l. — Extremely rare. Has 

 once been recorded by Mr. Thompson subsequent to 1833 (Yarrell's 

 British Birds, iii-, p. 574). This specimen is in the National Museum. 

 Known by its forked tail. 



Stcrcorarlus catarrhactes, Linn. Great Skua.— Very rare 

 visitor in autumn. One recently obtained from Dublin Bay is in the 

 Science and Art Museum {Life and Letters of A. G. More, p. 604, and 

 i,ist of Irish Birds, p. 28). 



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