BIRDS AND LIGHTHOUSES. 279 



Cope land Island Lighthouse^ co. Down. 



Several Woodcock were killed against the lantern, 

 and a few shot on the island, during the winter 

 1 8 80-8 1. H. Williams, the keeper, a most observant 

 man, tells me that three Cuckoos and a Falcon 

 (Peregrine), which he has stuffed, were killed against 

 the glass. He says he often takes down Skylarks 

 from the light and puts them into a dark room or 

 basket till day, as it is useless to let them go ; they 

 are especially persistent, and will return to flutter 

 round the lantern. In 1881 several Snipe were got 

 at the light, and always in hazy weather. In 1879 

 a Snipe actually nested in the island, and brought 

 out her young, some of which my informant cap- 

 tured as they were running in the grass and ferns. 

 Mew Island, which derives its name from the birds, 

 is some two hundred yards from the Copeland. In 

 1 880-8 1, about two hundred Ducks and Sheldrakes 

 rested there daily through the winter. In May the 

 Terns arrive, and lay their eggs in vast numbers ; 

 and Williams feelingly says, it breaks his heart to 

 see these beautiful birds shot by hundreds, and 

 their eggs taken away in basketfuls. Mr. Patter- 

 son, who visited the Copeland in July, 1881, to 

 inquire about the Falcon above mentioned, says 

 that he " flushed several Snipe on the adjacent 

 island (Mew), no doubt nesting." 



Tuscar Rock Lighthouse^ co. Wexford. 



Birds when migrating, by reason of its position, 

 strike this light in greater numbers than they do 



