CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 139 



a fowl, as it was lying disabled in a corner, inflicted 

 a most severe bite on his hand. From all I could 

 learn, the species usually taken were either immature 

 Pomarine or Arctic. 



Hawks and Owls are sometimes captured on board, 

 but they are mostly observed before dawn, perched on 

 some part of the rigging near the lamps. 



On one occasion the glass of the lights of the 

 Newarp was found broken, and a Duck of some 

 kind, that the crew were unacquainted with, was 

 discovered inside the lantern. 



Grey Geese, Mallard, and various sorts of wild fowl 

 used now and then to be obtained, but, from all I could 

 hear, the numbers of these birds have diminished 

 greatly of late years. 



Snipe were stated to be among the commonest cap- 

 tures, but during the whole of the winter I only received 

 a single specimen of this species. Woodcocks are sup- 

 posed by the light-keepers to be particularly swift-flying 

 birds, as they are generally picked up on deck much 

 cut and injured by striking against the lamps or rigging. 

 The real cause of such mishaps must, I should imagine, 

 be attributed to the weighty condition of the bird at the 

 time of the accident. I found that the Knot was well 

 known as being of frequent occurrence. They were 

 described as flying in large bodies, and numbers falling 

 at once on deck. One of the men declared that the last 

 flocks of these waders that he had observed, had sud- 

 denly shied when close to the lantern, and that but one 

 or two had been taken. 



It is stated that many years ago over one thousand 

 birds were one morning collected on board the Newarp. 

 Whether this was really the case or not I do not pre- 



