2S The Irish Naturalist. January, 



CoIumbaMvIa Rock-Dove).— One seen 24th June, 1905. One seen 

 14th April, T906. Several seen 16th April, 1906. "We have only 

 observed a few pairs breeding at Lambay."— Watters, "Birds of 

 Ireland." I have little doubt that careful search will yet reveal nests. 



Rallus aquaticus (Water Raii,).— Seen both in summer and winter, 

 and probably breeds. 



Vanellus vulgaris (Lapwing).— Breeds abundantly in centre of 

 island. 



Strepsilas interpres (Turnstone).— A flock was observed on 31st 

 December, 1905. 



Hcematopus ostralegus (Oyster- catcher).— Several pairs breed 

 on the rocks round the island. A nest I found was 8 inches in dia- 

 meter, lined with small flat stones carried there for the purpose, 

 the whole surrounded by growing Sea-pinks. It contained three 

 eggs. 



Scolopax rusticula (Woodcock.) — Autumn and winter visitor, but 

 one was seen in May,, 1906. One was caught in a rabbit trap the 

 15th October, 1905. 



Sterna fluviatilis (Common Tern) "1 



Sterna macrura (Arctic Tern) j° nl >' ver y occasionally seen. 



Larus ridibundus (Beack-headed Guee).— Chiefly a winter visitor, 

 but one or two have been seen in June, while young birds visited the 

 small pond by the harbour in June, 1905, and July, 1906. 



Larus can us (Common Guee). — We saw one on the 13th and 14th 

 April, 1906, but, according to Watters, who makes frequent reference 

 to the birds found on Lambay, it once bred there. He says, " Rare 

 in its maritime breeding haunts, a few pairs only nidify at Lambay " 

 (p. 260). And again at p. 267, he includes this species in a list of 

 breeding birds of the island. There are certainly sloping and low 

 cliffs on the S,W. side of the island resembling the ground where 

 Mr. Campbell and I found Common Gulls breeding in Donegal in 

 1892. 



Larus argentatus (Herring Guee). — This is certainly the dominant 

 bird of Lambay, as it is never absent. In winter (comparatively) few 

 are to be seen, but by February 1st they are fairly numerous, and 

 up to April the numbers are increased almost daily, until by the 

 middle of that month immense colonies are breeding on the north, 

 east, and south sides of the island, nests so close together that one 

 has to pick oue's steps, being found from a few feet above sea-level to 

 right up among the heather. Disconnected masses of rock — such 

 as Sunk Island — are also utilized. The nests vary greatly in size 

 and make, from simple lumps of dry grass to large and perfectly 

 shaped nests, composed of stalks of marine plants, dry sea-weed, 

 bits of heather, and lined with dry grass, etc. Many are found 

 on the paths through the heathery side of cliffs made by deer and 

 sheep. I noticed that in May the eggs were fresher and clutches 

 more incomplete the higher the elevation of the nest. Apparently 

 the first comers had secured the rocky ledges near the sea and the 



