igi*- BarringTon. — Rush of Birds on March 2gtk-2,oih. lot 



where gas lamps were lighted. There are no gas lamps at 

 Cappoquin, and no bnds were observed there." 



Clonmel. — Mr. Burns, of the Clonmel Chronicle, reports : 

 — " On the morning of March 30th a number of Starlings 

 were found dead near St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, 

 as if they had dashed themselves in the darkness against 

 the spire." 



The above extracts from letters and newspapers illustrate 

 what happened over several inland towns. The bird-rush 

 of March 29th was also observed at Enniscorthy, Gorey, 

 Greystones, and Bray ; but the numbers at the three last- 

 named towns were very small. 



In order to show the number passing up the 

 Channel, the following extract from the Irish Times of 

 April ist is of interest, as giving the experience of the 

 captain of a steamer plying between Liverpool and 

 Drogheda. 



Captain Kirwin, who was in command of the L. & Y. 

 Rly. Company's steamer, " Colleen Bawn," is reported to 

 have said that :— " On the night of the 29th March about 

 eleven o'clock, after crossing Drogheda bar, millions of birds 

 joined the boat. Amongst them were a number of Curlew. 



" On the following night coming from Liverpool, about 

 twelve o'clock, large numbers of birds came on board 

 and flew all round the steamer. They appeared very tired 

 as if they had travelled a long distance, and did not know 

 where to alight in the darkness. About three a.m. an 

 enormous mass hovered round and perched on every part 

 of the vessel, including the funnel. At 5.30 a.m., when 

 thirty miles from the Irish coast, the birds flew in all 

 directions from the steamer as if they were looking for 

 land." 



Turning now to the light-stations on the coast, the 

 most northerly from which any special number of birds 

 was reported is Balbriggan. 



Mr. E. A. Kennedy, light-keeper, at an interview, 

 said : — "A rush of Starlings commenced at eleven p.m. 

 on March 29th, and continued until four a.m. the next 

 morning. Fifteen were picked up dead." This is a 

 small mainland lighthouse at the end of the pier, and 



