228 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



tvork must be carried out before we can afford to relegate several 

 species which have only occurred on autumnal migration within 

 a few miles of the mainland of Ireland to the position of 

 stragglers ; at the same time, full details must be collected of 

 the site and circumstances under which every specimen has 

 been recorded. Nor can we neglect to study carefully the indi- 

 vidual distribution in Great Britain and elsewhere of such 

 migratory species. It seems to me a somewhat a priori argu- 

 ment, without sufficient evidence, to advance that species occur- 

 ring as regular summer visitants to England, but only as 

 autumnal visitors on migration to Ireland (and this only as 

 far as we have ascertained by evidence afforded in the capture 

 of birds at lighthouses), are mere stragglers, no matter what 

 may be their difference iu range of distribution and in numbers 

 in the quarters where they breed. 



