THE BIEDS OF LAMBAY ISLAND. 163 



Shag, P. cristatus, Fab. — A very few pairs still breed, but 

 this species is very scarce on Larnbay. I was informed that 

 not more than four or five pairs were there in 1882. These are 

 scattered over the island, and the only site I am sure of is in a 

 cave near the New House. Both species of Cormorant inhabit 

 this cave, but the larger chiefly frequent Carnoon and Saltpan 

 Bay, on the north-west of the island. A pair or two of Shags 

 breed, I believe, also on the south side of the island, but my 

 visits have in general been late for these birds. On Horn Head 

 and the Sheephaven cliffs, in Donegal, I have found the greatest 

 difficulty in obtaining the eggs of the Shag. Their favourite place 

 is near the roof of a cave from the entrance to a considerable 

 distance in, where the overhanging nature of the situation, as 

 well as its moistness and slipperiness, renders climbing most 

 dangerous. The Gap of Doonmore, on Horn Head, the finest 

 cave I have seen, is inhabited by both the Cormorant and Shag. 

 Here 1 succeeded in climbing to their nests at the end of May, 

 when the majority of the eggs were hatched. A peculiarity about 

 these birds which I have not seen mentioned is that eggs and 

 young birds in widely different stages of incubation may be found 

 in the same nest. In one nest of the Shag I found an egg nearly 

 fresh, a young bird just hatched, and another apparently about a 

 week old. The eggs of both species are very variable in size, 

 especially those of the Cormorant, which are sometimes not bigger 

 than those of the Shag. 



Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla, Linn. — Breeds in great numbers 

 from near the water's edge to about three-fourths of the way up 

 the cliffs on all sides of the island except the lower western shore. 

 It makes a small, compact, and comfortable nest, which it some- 

 times affixes to the sheer face of a cliff (as at the New House), 

 with hardly a prominence to commence upon. I have usually 

 observed three eggs in each nest, and these are laid early in June. 

 The Kittiwake is much the most abundant bird on Lambay, and 

 breeds sparingly on Ireland's Eye. 



Greater Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus, Linn. — Used 

 formerly to breed on Lambay, as stated in my introductory 

 remarks, but I have never seen this bird there, and it is scarcer 

 along the Dublin shore than formerly. The nearest breeding- 

 place of this Gull, I believe, is at the Saltee Islands, but for this, 

 however, I cannot personally vouch. 



