1 896. ] Warrkn . — The Gn Us of Killala Bay '. 175 



small colonies on the loughs in Connemara, as well as in 

 N.W. Donegal, and Mayo ; and probably when Clare is ex- 

 plored, they may be found breeding in that county also. 



The Kittiwake: Gui<i. {Lams rissa) is very abundant round 

 this coast in summer, but very few are to be seen in winter, 

 and then only a bird in miserable condition is occasionally 

 seen. I have sometimes found birds Ijang dead on the shore 

 in winter evidently starved to death ; an}^ I have shot at that 

 time of 3^ear were always in the same miserable state, mere 

 bundles of bones and feathers. This gull breeds in many 

 small colonies along the cliffs extending from I^acken Baj^ to 

 Downpatrick Head, where there is a very large colony breeding 

 on the shelves and ledges of the head, as well as on those of 

 Doonbrista, the rock on which the Great Blackbacked Gulls 

 breed. The next breeding-haunt is about ten miles further 

 west near Belderig, where many thousands breed on the cliffs 

 between that and Porturlin, and also on the range of cliffs 

 between the latter place and Portacloy ; while one of their 

 largest colonies is on Pig's Island, near Porturlin. 



The numbers of Kitti wakes, and their numerous breeding- 

 haunts along that line of coast, are really astonishing, and 

 must be actually seen to be realized. 



There is also a great breeding-haunt of Kittiwakes on the 

 Sligo coast, Aughris Head (about twenty-four miles from 

 Ballina), where the gulls are in two large colonies, one on a 

 range of cliff about 300 yards long, and the other on one about 

 50 or 60 yards shorter, and as the shelves and ledges are ver}^ 

 regular in their formation, the gulls sitting on their nests can 

 be seen to great advantage, as they appear in long rows, 

 tier above tier, on the face of the cliff. This is the largest 

 colon}^ of Kittiwakes I have yet seen, for although there are 

 greater numbers on the Mayo coast they are more scattered, 

 and not so many are seen at one colony as at Aughris. 



The Bi^ACKHEADEjD Gui,!, {Lams ridibundus) is the most 

 numerous of our residents, and a few j^ears ago had two large 

 breeding-haunts within two and three miles of Ballina, Cloona, 

 and Rathrouyeen, but the former has been deserted for some 

 years, for after the death of Mr. Wm. Gardiner, who strictly 

 preserved the lough, the new tenant neglected doing so, and 

 in consequence the gulls were so disturbed and harassed by 

 the country boys robbing their nests year after year, that they 



