i897-] USSHKR. — Distribution of Birds Breeding in Ireland, 67 



The Oyster-catcher, in nearly every case I have seen, breeds 

 on rocks or rocky ground, as on the tops of rocky islands. 



The Common Gull breeds on low rocky islets in lakes in the 

 West of Ireland, usually but not alwaj^s near the coast, but 

 also in a few instances on sea-cli£fs and marine islands. 



The lycsser Black-backed Gull is an inland as well as a 

 marine breeder, nesting on the great bogs and on islands in 

 the larger lakes both in the inland counties denoted in the 

 table and in inland parts of maritime counties. 



The Great Black-backed Gull nests on low rocks where the 

 site is favourable, and even on a sandbank, besides its usual 

 positions, the summits of rocky islands known as " stacks." 



The Manx Shearwater and the Petrels breed in the talus so 

 often found on sea-cliffs and lofty islands, whether it be 

 covered with peat or formed of loose stone. 

 , The Puffin, though inhabiting similar places to the latter, 

 breeds more extensively in the peat-covered tops of lofty 

 islands and cliffs, but never I believe resorts to low-lying 

 coasts. 



The Cormorant has several breeding colonies in trees on 

 islands in lakes in Gal way. Mayo, and Roscommon* 



It will be observed in the above table that the peninsular 

 counties which jut out westwards into the Atlantic are the 

 richest in rock-breeders, Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry 

 each exhibiting twenty species or upwards. 



III. — Sevkn Species breeding on Mountains and Moors* 



«o,^ 







Hen-Harrier, 

 Merlin, . 

 Ring-Ouzel, 

 Twite, 

 Nightjar, 

 Golden Plover, 

 Curlew, , 



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