288 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vi. 



REVIEW. 



Clare Island Survey, Part 20, Avos. liy H. J. Ussher (Proc. R. Irish 

 Acad., Vol. XXXI). 54 pp. and 5 plates. (Dublin : Hodges 

 Figgis, July, 1912). 2s. 6d. 



A SURVEY of the Fauna, Flora, Geology, Meteorology, etc., 

 of Clare Island, Ac hill and other islands and the adjoining 

 mainland of the west of Ireland was carried out by over 

 one hundred specialists during the years 1909, 1910 and 1911, 

 under the auspices of the Royal Irish Academy. The 

 ornithologists who made special visits to the locality were 

 Major G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, Messrs. R. M. Barrington 

 N. H. Foster, Pastor C. Lindner, Professor C. J. Patten, and 

 Mr. R. J. Ussher, while schedules have been filled in by other 

 ornithologists. Mr. Ussher now gives us the results of these 

 observations in a very careful and concise paper consisting 

 of a few general remarks, an account of each species, and a 

 comparative table, as well as a summary and bibliography. 



Mr. Ussher notes that the special features of the avifaima 

 of these islands are : the large winter immigration of Passeres 

 such as Thrushes, Finches, Starlings, Rooks and Sky-Larks ; 

 the Minter visitation of species from northern countries and 

 the late stay in spring of these and other birds, the rarity of 

 those Continental birds wliich are occasional visitors to 

 Ireland, and the increase of the Blackbird and several wood- 

 land species on the mainland, and of the Great Black-backed 

 Gull on the islands. We might also mention the marked 

 extensions of the breeding-ranges of the Tufted Duck and 

 Shoveler in recent years, and the great diminution (amounting 

 almost to extinction) of the Quail in Avestem Ireland. 



There is one serious omission in this work to which attention 

 must be dra\vn, and that is the lack of information as to 

 subspecific forms. We are told that specimens collected 

 were carefully compared and that none of the Clare Island 

 birds differed from those from other parts of Ireland. In 

 one case — the Dipper — the characters of the Irish bird are 

 discussed, but no mention is made of the fact that this 

 race was separated by Dr. Hartert in 1910 ! We may 

 therefore conclude that the purely resident birds are of the 

 British or Irish forms, but it would have been far simpler 

 and more scientific to have said so. When however we 

 consider the migrant Song-Thrushes, Goldcrests and Red- 

 breasts, we are left in ignorance as to whether the Continental 

 forms visit this area or not, nor are we told if the Greenland 

 Wheatear occurs. Most of the British races have now been 

 separated for some years, and surely it is time that Irish 

 ornithologists learnt something about them. H.F.W. 



