104 The Irish Naturalisl. June, 



forwarded was a Water-rail, killed striking on March 29th. 



Hook Tower. — A light at the extreme end of a long 

 narrow promontory extending in a S.W. direction at the 

 mouth of Waterford Harbour. Mr. J. Devaney, the 

 assistant keeper, writes, on March 30th. : — " I am for- 

 warding a bird [Water -rail received] which struck the 

 lantern this morning. Thousands of Starhngs, Blackbirds, 

 Thrushes, and Manx Shearwaters were around the lantern 

 all night, and hundreds were killed. It was very dark and 

 gloomy, and wind N.E." 



Old Head of Kinsale. — After Hook Tower there arc no 

 south coast lighthouse records until we reach this mainland 

 hghthouse, from which Mr. Martin Kennedy, light -keeper 

 writes on March 30th, thus : — " I am posting to-day 6 

 Robins, 2 Skylarks, 2 Wheatears [all received.] They were 

 killed at the lantern between 10 and 11.30 p.m. last night. 

 It is most remarkable about the 6 Robins ; I only remember 

 getting one before — at Rockabill. 136 Starlings were found 

 killed, or dying, this morning after the night, also 2 Shear- 

 waters." On April 2nd Mr. Kennedy forwarded a Wheatear, 

 Black Redstart, Stonechat, and Meadow Pipit, killed the 

 previous night between 9 p.m. and midnight. He reports 

 that the lantern and balcony were covered with hundreds of 

 Starlings, but not one was killed. Wind light S.E., overcast, 

 misty. 



If the map of Ireland be consulted, it will be found that 

 the distance from Balbriggan to the Old Head of Kinsale 

 is about 180 miles, measured across country in a direct 

 line : and that, with the exception of six towns situated 

 along the Rivers Suir, Barrow, and Nore, namely, Waterford, 

 Carrick-on-Suir, New Ross, Bagenalstown, Carlow, and 

 Kilkenny, no great flight of birds was observed anywhere 

 inland. Those seen at Lismore, Clonmel, Enniscorthy, and 

 Gorey were comparatively few. 



Some persons consider that the birds were departing 

 from instead of arriving in Ireland. I think this view 

 untenable, for, if one thing more than another stands out 

 perfectly clear, it is that the great bulk of the birds which 

 are observed at light -stations, are always making joy, and 

 not jrom the land. This conclusion is arrived at from 



