1905-1904..1 149 



by the cameras. Then the serious work of the day was begun, 

 and the party separated to explore the island thoroughly. 

 While some collected in the rock-pools and among the sea- 

 weed, others ascended to the top of the island (110 feet), and 

 watched the numerous birds on the cliffs and sea-stacks, and 

 the botanists made the most of their time, as shown by a list 

 of twenty species of marine algcn (including Conferva erecta) 

 and many land plants, Asplemum marinum, Ophioglossum 

 vulgatum, and Botrycium lunaria being the best finds of the 

 latter. The following birds were found to be nesting on the 

 island : —Herring-Gulls, Jackdaws, Rock-Pipits, Lapwings, 

 and Martins, while information was obtained of Sheld-ducks 

 having had a nest there this season. The rarest bird observed 

 was the Manx Shearwater, a pair being seen on the eastern 

 side of the island, where they probably breed. Altogether 

 forty-seven species of birds were noted during the day by the 

 ornithologists of the party. The rock-pools yielded several 

 species of amphipods and isopods, fishes of the ordinary shore 

 kinds, crabs, and many other marine animals, and good collec- 

 tions were made. On the highest parts of the island those 

 curious pellets cast up by the gulls were found, some consist- 

 ing wholly of bones and teeth of fish, others containing 

 remains of rat, rabbit, mouse, and innumerable crabs, with 

 a few wireworms, while the numerous wing-cases and legs 

 of beetles in others proved the gulls to be good friends 

 to the farmer. The day was too dry for land-shell col- 

 lecting, but six common species were found on the island, 

 including the white form of Helix rotundata, which seems to 

 be as rare in Ireland as the type is common. The marine 

 shell Trochus helicinus var. fasciata was found in quantity on 

 the centre of the causeway, and seemed to be spawning there. 

 The variety is rare here, almost the only recorded locality 

 being Portrush in 1898 (Nichols). Altogether twenty-seven 

 species of beetles were collected, one little pond alone yield- 

 ing five species. The steam launch of the Ulster Fisheries 

 Association came round from Larne, and did some dredging 

 in the neighbourhood of Port Muck, the members watching the 



