Allen on the Destruction of Birds hy Light-houses. 131 

 DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS BY LIGHT-HOUSES. 



BY J. A. ALLEN. 



That multitudes of birds are killed during their migrations by 

 flying against the lanterns of light-houses and light-ships is well 

 known, at least to ornithologists and keepers of light-stations. In 

 respect to this country, however, no general account of such fatali- 

 ties and the circumstances under which they occur has been made, 

 although considerable attention has lately been given to the matter 

 by British naturalists, with special reference to the migration of 

 Eui'opean birds.* Some years since, Mr. Ruthven Deane sent out 

 letters of inquiry to various light-keepers on our own coast for the 

 purpose of eliciting information respecting the general subject of 

 birds striking the lights; and the replies received by him, which he 

 has recently placed in my hands, form the basis of the present ar- 

 ticle, abstracts of which are here presented. In many cases the 

 information is rather meagre, as would be naturally expected, ow- 

 ing to the inability of the reporters to recognize the species of birds 

 that are destroyed by the lights, or to appreciate just the natui-e of 

 the information required ; yet their replies contribute something of 

 value respecting the frequency of such occuiTences and the circum- 

 stances attending them. Not only are our thanks due to these ob- 

 servers for their kindness in transmitting reports, but I am especially 

 under obligations to Mr. Deane for placing these results at my dis- 

 posal. There is, however, little to be said on the matter beyond 

 what the abstracts themselves present. 



1. Wood Island Light, near entrance to Saco harbor, Me. A flashing 

 red light ; height above sea level, 62 feet. Albert Norwood, keeper. Re- 

 port dated March 4, 1877. — Of late years very few birds have flown 

 against the Ught ; during the last four years not more than 30 or 40 have 

 been thus killed. They usually strike during foggy weather, in August 

 and September. 



2. Egg Rock Light, near the entrance of Frenchman's Bay, Mount 

 Desert, four miles from Bar Harbor, Me., and two miles from any head- 



* See especially the "Report on the Migi-ation of Birds in the Autumn of 

 1879." By John A. Haivie-Brown and John Cordeaux. Zoologist, May, 

 1880, pp. 161 - 204. Also the Uterature there cited relating to the subject. 



