THE ZOOLOGIST, 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. VIII.] DECEMBEE, 1884. [No. 96. 



IRISH BREEDING-STATIONS OF THE GANNET, 

 8ULA BASSANA. 



Knowing that the Gannet was reported to breed on the Bull 

 Eock, about three miles W.N.W. of Dursey Head, Co. Cork,* 

 in addition to its long recognized Irish breeding-station on the 

 Little Skellig, I made arrangements to visit it early in the 

 month of June last. 



Before giving a brief account of my excursion, it may be 

 interesting to refer to some statements regarding the breeding 

 of the Gannet in Ireland. Thompson in his ' Natural History 

 of Ireland' (vol. iii., p. 263), quotes the 'History of Kerry,' by 

 Smith, who, describing the "second or middle Skellig," which is 

 no doubt identical with the " Skellig Eock little," or Little Skellig 

 of the Ordnance Map, says :— '"Tis remarkable the Gannet 

 nestles nowhere else on the south coast of Ireland, and though 

 multitudes of them are daily seen on all parts of our coast, 

 upon the wing, and in the sea, yet they were never known 

 to alight on any other land or rock hereabouts, except on this 

 island." 



Smith's 'Kerry ' was published in 1766, and, though I have no 

 copy beside me, it is probable the Lemon Eock (a small low rock 

 much nearer land) was counted as one of the Skelligs by Smith, 



- See ' Zoologist,' 1882, p. 110, and ' Migi-ation of Birds at Lighthouses,' 

 5th Eeport, p. 89. 



ZOOLOGIST. DEC. 1884. 2 O 



