FOOT (F. J.) ON THE LITTE AUK AT ATHLONE. 



39 



It is very gratifying to find confirmation of that use of the Shannon as 

 a migratory highroad to which I alluded in my remarks on the Skuas 

 at our last meeting ; for there is no doubt, taking condition of plumage, 

 dates, and direction of wind into account, that Mr. Toot's specimen, and 

 those just recorded by Mr. Warren, as occurring at Ballina, formed part 

 of the same flock. Mr. Foot's communication is as follows : — 



" Athlonc, December 26, 1862. 



"My deae Kinahan, — I send you a specimen of the Little Auk 

 (Alca Alle, Linn.). It allowed itself to be taken alive, while swimming 

 close to the town bridge of Athlone, on Sunday evening, December 21st. 

 The man who captured it endeavoured to keep it alive by placing it in 

 a tub of water, but it died in a day or two. No other similar birds were 

 observed with or near it. Please present it, in my name, to the collec- 

 tion of the Natural History Society. You will observe that this indi- 

 vidual is in first-rate condition, and adult plumage intermediate between 

 the summer and winter dress. 



" In the case of all these irregular migrants to our shores it is impor- 

 tant to know the state of the weather both on and previous to the day the 

 bird was captured or observed. I, therefore, append a copy of my register 

 of the 21st, and three preceding days, and you will see by it that all 

 that time the wind was IS", of W. I think this is interesting in con- 

 nexion with the specimen of the same species which you informed me 

 was shot lately on the Donegal coast : — 



REGISTER OF WIND, WEATHER, AND ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, 1862. ATHLONE. 



150 FEET ABOVE THE SEA. 



Dec. 



Direction 



of 



Wind. 



Description 



of Weather. 



Mean Readings 

 of Aneroid 

 Barometer. 



Morning. 



Evening. 



18 

 19 

 20 

 21 



W. b. N. 

 W.N.W. 



N.W. 



N.W. 



Squalls, heavy showers. 

 Full gale, wet. 

 Full gale, wet. 

 Calm, dry. 



Full gale, wet. 

 Full gale, wet. 

 Squalls, dry. 

 Calm, showery. 



30-28 

 30-08 

 30-30 

 30-58 



The direction of the wind was taken by the upper clouds. By the 

 way, is not the height of the barometer remarkable? I don't think it 

 stood so high all the year before. 



" In our 'Proceedings' of last year, I see that a specimen of the Little 

 Auk has been recorded on the Shannon, in "Williamstown, by you. 

 "lam yours faithfully, 



« P. J. POOT." 



The President then read the following communication, addressed to 

 him by Mr. J. C. Neligan : — 



30, Dawson-street, March 4th, 1863. 



" My deae Sie, — I lately read with much interest a copy of a paper, 

 ' On the "Winter Migration of the Pomarine Skua,' read before the Na- 

 tural History Society, on the 5th of last December, by Mr. P. Warren, 



