4 NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE XXIV. 1917. 



Although the gizzard was absolutely devoid of foodstuffs, the condition of 

 the body was decidedly good, the muscles firm, and there was a considerable 

 amount of fat present, especially about the root of the neck and upper region 

 of the thorax. The bird weighed four drams eighteen grains, being propor- 

 tionately as heavy as were any well-nourished Common Wheatears which I 

 have obtained on their regular migrations from Tuskar Light-station. Like 

 the Aquatic Warbler recently procured on Tuskar Rock, this Wheatear cannot 

 be placed in the category of a waif, and what I have said in regard to the move- 

 ments and fate of the former holds good in the main for such in the latter,* 

 namely that the bird had not been perambulating about on the rock in a half- 

 starved condition for some days before death overtook it and rid it of its miseries. 

 In other words, it was not a bird which, becoming separated from its companions, 

 drifted about aimlessly, until fatigued or storm-bound f it sought refuge on a 

 rock. On the contrary, the foregoing evidence, circumstantial and objective, is 

 ample to show that the bird struck the lantern at night, was seen on the rock 

 next morning and several times during the day, and was captured in the evening. 

 The evidence of its having struck the lantern, or some object close by, resolves 

 itseU into incontrovertible proof when the head was examined post-mortem. 



Assuming this to have been the sequence of events, it is interesting to note 

 that the bird travelled ^\'ith several other species which habitually reach Tuskar 

 on migration, including its close relatives the Common and Greenland Wheat- 

 ears. J Because in addition to the general statement made by Mr. McGinley, 

 namely that there were dozens of Wheatears and Warblers in the rays at the 

 lantern at 2 o'clock on the morning of May 16th, I have received direct proof that 

 Sedge-warblers, WiUow-warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, and Common Wheatears 

 struck at that time, for Mr. Glanville sent me specimens which I received in 

 the same parcel which contained the Black-eared Wheatear. Now, in my paper 



is not only justifiable but highly desirable, provided of course that full data of the record be supplied, 

 that the specimen itself be properly dissected and in every way investigated, and the skin be care- 

 fully preserved and in due course be presented to the Dublin Museum, so that it may take its proper 

 place among the National Collection. It woiild be a different matter altogether were such a species 

 to repeat its visits sufficiently often so as to arouse suspicion as to the possibility of its breeding. 

 Obviously then one would refrain from repeatedly collecting. It so happens, however, that the 

 vast majority of migrants collected alive at light-stations have proved to have been wounded or in 

 an exhausted state. Herein then lies the duty of the collector who perchance comes across such 

 unfortunate birds to put them out of pain. By such a procedure he performs a humane act, and at 

 the same time is afforded the opportunity of benefiting ornithological science by duplicating the 

 collections not only of common but of many rare and interesting species, which if found unwounded 

 it might not be morally right to deprive of their hves. The sitpremely important study of variation 

 can only be made when a sufficiently large number of a given species is collected, and we look to 

 those who have the unique opportunities at light- stations to conserve dupUcates and multiples of 

 rare species. 



* Except that the Aquatic Warbler was killed outright by striking the lantern and was picked 

 up dead on the rook a few hours later, i.e. at dawn, whereas the wounded Black-eared Wheatear 

 lingered for some seventeen and a half hours after it struck before being collected and put out of pain 

 {" Aquatic Warbler on Migration," Zoologist, March 1915, p. 82). 



t As a matter of fact at the time that I have essayed this Black-eared Wheatear to have struck 

 the lantern, the wind, blowing from the S.S.W., only registerad, according to Beaufort's scale, a 

 gentle breeze, i.e. Force 3, and the condition of the weather was cloudy and rainy. The next day 

 the wind maintained much the same force and direction, veering and backing between S. and W. 

 In the evening when the bird was secured, the weather, though foggy (as it was all day), was quite 

 calm, the southerly wind only registering a light breeze (F. 2, Beaufort). 



t Just as the Aquatic Warbler obtained at Tuskar travelled with its close relative the Sedge- 

 warbler (" Aquatic Warbler on Migration obtained on Tuskar Rock," Zoologist, March 1916, 

 pp. 81-92). 



