436 Major W. "R. Thompson on the [Ibis, 



Falco tinnunculus. The Kestrel. 



A common resident ; in fact, more nnmerons here than 

 I have ever seen it in any part o£ Enoland, except possibly 

 in one locality in the Isle of AVight last autumn, when it 

 may, perhaps, have been migrating. 



Mr. Eagle (-lark found it extremely abundant during the 

 last weeks in September 1898, and concluded thorefrom that, 

 in the case of Alderney, Mr. Cecil Smith was mistaken in 

 his assumption that its numbers are not increased during the 

 migratory season. My own opinion, however, based on 

 several seasons^ observation, is that Mr. Cecil Smith was 

 correct and that this bird does not visit Alderney as a bird of 

 passage, at least to any appreciable extent. 



The number actually present on the island is constantly 

 varying throughout the year by interchange of visits to and 

 from the coast of France, and I think that very likely during 

 Mr. Eagle Clarke's visit some of the French birds may have 

 been here, but it may also be that he underestimated the 

 number of residential birds. In walking round the island 

 I should expect to encounter, in normal times, from twelve 

 to twenty birds and very possibly more, whilst the occnsions 

 when one or two are not iji sight are rare. If this number 

 were collected together on one part of the ishmd for any 

 reason, such as the abundance of coleoptera, it might easily 

 account for the number seen, and if in addition, and probably 

 for the same reason, individuals had arrived from France, 

 the numb(n' would be still more easily accounted for. 



Phalacrocorax carbo. The Cormorant. 



An uncommon winter visitor, and possibly a resident in 

 very small numbers, but I have not myself found it breeding 

 here, nor do I think that I have seen it here in the breeding- 

 season, and I only include it as a resident on the authority 

 of Mr. Cecil Smith, who states that one or two pairs breed 

 at Bnrhou. Mr. Eagle Clarke found this species very 

 abundant during his visit in September 1898. I have myself 

 only very occasionally noticed it in the winter months, and 

 have only once seen as many as three together. According 



