198 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



in inland localities, at the present day maritime 

 cliffs are almost its sole remaining stronghold. It 

 still breeds, if in diminishing numbers, from Dorset 

 west to Cornwall. A few birds bi'eed on Lundy 

 Island ; colonies here and there exist along the rock- 

 bound coasts of Wales, as well as in one or two 

 inland localities in that countr}' ; a few still nest 

 in the Isle of Man, and possibly in Cumberland. 

 Up the west coast of Scotland it is fairly well 

 established, especially on the Island of Islay, and 

 in smaller numbers in Jura and Skye. In Ireland 

 its chief resorts are along the coasts of Kerry, Mayo, 

 Donegal, Antrim, Waterford, and Cork. It also 

 still continues to breed on the Blaskets. The most 

 singular thing about the decrease of this species is 

 that it cannot fairly be attributed to persecution by 

 man or the destruction of its ancient strongholds. 

 Evidence is not wanting that the decrease of the 

 Chough is contemporaneous with the increase of 

 the Jackdaw in each particular locality, and it 

 seems probable that the stronger Daw is ousting 

 the Chough from its ancestral homes. We would 

 suggest by way of experiment, that where the.se 

 interlopers seem actually to be dispossessing the 

 Choughs, a reduction of their numbers should be 

 made. Collectors work some harm in the more 



