191 3- Aotes. 219 
Iceland Gull in July and Mealy Redpoll on Inishtrahull. 
An Iceland Gull appeared on Inishtrabull on Friday, July i8th 
last. I found, on obtaining the bird, that it was changing from the white 
to a later phase of plumage. I am not sure if this bird has been recorded 
previously as occurring in Ireland in July. In his " Birds of Ireland," 
Mr. Ussher points out that July is the only month the Iceland Gull has 
not been obtained. 
On September 24th at noon, a Mealy Redpoll Jluttered down the chimney 
of one of the islanders' cottages, and was brought to me. It was un- 
injured, and is feeding well in a cage. 
University, Sheffield. C. J. Patten. 
Stock Doves in County Fermanagh. 
Last year (1912) I picked up a Stock Dove {Cohimha ae-uas) in the 
garden here, the first I had ever seen in this county ; it was in a very 
emaciated condition, and died in a few days. This summer two pairs 
nested in the garden, but I do not know whether they reared any young 
or not, as I was away at the time they should have flown. 
Tempo, Co. Fermanagh. Charles Laxgham. 
Spotted Flycatchers at Portlaw. 
On the 24th August last, I watched a number of Spotted Flycatchers. 
They were all settled on the wire fences surrounding two tennis courts 
in the garden here. Eleven birds I was able to count for certain, but 
there probably was a larger number. Their activity prevented me from 
counting more. It was an interesting sight. They came at times so 
close, I could hear the snapping of the bill. They were all very busy, 
taking short flights to catch their insect pre}'. But the point of my 
note is this : — They all, with one exception, disappeared on the following 
day. I think it can hardly be doubted that they disappeared to perform 
their autumnal migration. It was certainly not scarcity of food that 
urged them to leave. The supply of Flycatchers' food is abundant here, 
too abundant to be pleasant to human beings. I have just consulted 
Mr. Barrington's great work, ' Migration of Birds," and lind that he 
records instances of Spotted Flycatchers killed at Irish lights at the 
extraordinarily different dates of July 21, September 21, October 2 and 
20, November 20-30. These were all single birds, and were killed in 1895, 
1887 (two), 1889, and 1897. I think it can be inferred from what I 
noted that the time of the general autumnal migration of the Spotted 
Flycatcher is about the end of x\ugust. In exceptional years birds begin 
to leave us about the middle of July, and .stay with us sometimes even 
till the end of November. 
Coolfin. Portlaw, Co. Waterford. W. W. Flemvxg. 
