©Ije^ gtrt^lj Jlatttralt^t. 



Vol.. 11. JUNE, 1893. No. 6. 



THE YEI.LOW-BILLED SHEATHBII,!, (Chionis alba, 

 Latham) ON THE IRISH COAST. 



BY H. LYSTKR JAMESON. 



Op the many rare birds that have within the last few years 

 been added to the Irish list through the energetic researches 

 of Mr. R. M. Barrington and his correspondents at the Irish 

 lighthouses, none has caused more interest among ornitho- 

 logists than the Yellow-billed Sheathbill {Chionis alba). 



The specimen, of which a plate is given in this number, was 

 shot by Mr. Richard Hamilton, lighthouse-keeper, Carling- 

 ford, Co. Down, on December 2nd, 1892. Mr. Hamilton 

 describes the capture in his letter to Mr. Barrington (Decem- 

 ber 9th) as follows : — 



"At 8.30 a.m. on the 2nd, I was at the Blockhouse (a small island about 

 800 yards from the lighthouse) shooting ducks, and saw the bird walking 

 about on the highest part of it, which is not more than ten feet. I at 

 first took it for a tame pigeon, as it seemed to take no notice of me, but 

 observed that it walked differently, at an angle of about 45°, and was not 

 picking at anything; so fired at it about thirty yards, and was surprised 

 to see it go off. It took a half circle of the rock, and again alighted a 

 few yards from the water. I again fired at about forty yards, still the 

 bird stood steady as if not touched — and I consider myself a fair shot,— 

 so I sent the dog to fetch it, and when about two yards from it, it again 

 took to flight, as it seemed quite strong, but fell about fifty yards from 

 the rock. I picked it up with the boat, and from its attitude on the 

 water, I dare say it was a land bird. The wings were partly opened, par- 

 ticularly in front. The shot used was No. 2." 



Mr. Benjamin R. Jeffers, assistant-keeper, who watched the 

 proceedings from the lighthouse with a telescope, described 

 the bird as being quite at ease on the water until the b*bat 

 came up, when it assumed the attitude described by Mr. 

 Hamilton.' He also said that it had a very "proud, bold 



For this information I am indebted to Mr, Barrington. 



A 



