KINAHAN — ON SKUAS. 7 



1845; and, lastly, the third, shot oil the North Strand, Dublin Bay, 

 on the 1st of January, 1846. The only other instance recorded of the 

 occurrence of thePulmar on this coast, that I am aware of, is that of 

 an immature bird (noticed in my list of birds last session) found on 

 Moyview shore on the 27th of January, 1857, and apparently but a 

 few hours dead. It is now in the collection of Dr. Harvey, of Cork. 



In conclusion, I would remark that the many instances of rare 

 birds occurring on our coasts water-logged after storms ought to impress 

 on collectors the importance of examining and preserving the specimens 

 washed ashore by the surf ; and, if the suggestion is carried out, I am 

 sure that many rare birds will be obtained (to add to the value of our 

 Irish collections), which are now left to be devoured by those vultures 

 of the shores, the black -backed Gulls, or to premature decay, in an 

 early grave, beneath the drifting sands. 



Mr. E. P. Williams mentioned that another specimen of the Pomarine 

 Skua, in the black plumage, may be seen in Mrs. Glennon's window, 

 in Suffolk-street. In his description of the tails, Mr. Warren has 

 omitted to state the peculiar form of the two elongated feathers, which 

 are not flat, as in Eichardson's and Buffon's Skuas, but have a twist in 

 them outwards for half their length, like the flange of a screw propel- 

 ler. This does not appear to be noticed by other observers. 



Mr. Montgomery stated that Eichardson is the only author who men- 

 tions the vane of the pair of tail-feathers being obliquely inclined towards 

 each other. 



The Honorary Secretary, in the author's absence, then read the 

 following : — 



Observations on Me. Warren's foregoing Paper. By Professor 

 Ejnahan, M. D. 



Mr. Warren having asked me to lay before you his paper on the 

 birds so kindly presented by him, I hope that, though absent per- 

 sonally, I may be allowed to offer a few remarks on it and on the birds 

 presented. 



Mr. Warren, by his communications to our meeting during the past 

 and present session, has established the fact that a regular migration 

 southerly of at least two species of Skua occurs along our coast; and in 

 confirmation of the idea of a regular migration across the regions adja- 

 cent to this island, or rather its western shores, Lieutenant Crane has 

 recorded the summer migration northerly of a third species of Skua. 

 None of these migrations, as far as we can judge from the specimens 

 captured here, seem to be migrations to this country, but rather mi- 

 gratory flocks either on their way to or return from their breeding 

 haunts farther north. 



To explain what I mean more fully, perhaps this meeting will bear 

 with me for a few moments whilst I review what is known in this 

 country of the occurrence of Skuas. Thompson, in his " Birds of Ire- 



