IRISH COAST. 133 
Wicklow coasts, between the 11th and 15th February. There 
was no hard frost at the time. These lights are all seven to ten 
miles from shore. During the second week in April, at several 
stations, Thrushes are recorded. The great autumn rush took 
place between the 6th and 10th November, and a smaller one 
between the 17th and 20th October. Blackbirds accompanied 
the Thrushes, but in smaller numbers. 
“A Blackbird with a white breast” was observed at Mine 
Head from the 8th to the 10th December. A further descrip- 
tion given of this bird shows it may have been a Ring Ouzel. 
The Hedge Sparrow seems to be resident in small numbers dur- 
ing the winter on the Tearaght Rock, nine miles off the Kerry 
coast, and possibly it breeds there. No clear indication of the 
migration of the Robin has yet been shown on the Irish Coast. 
The records of its occurrence are few and scattered. The Black 
redstart was recorded at several stations in the southern half of 
Ireland ; specimens were forwarded from Mine Head, the Skeiligs, 
and Rockabill. It is apparently a regular winter visitor to the 
Skelligs and Tearaght, generally appearing in October and 
November. With one exception (in February) there is no record 
of its occurrence during any other month. The autumn migera- 
tion of the Goldcrest was the smallest yet recorded, but on the 
12th and 13th Aprila spring movement was apparent. As usual, 
the Starling is the best marked migrant, occurring at almost 
every station. There is no record yet of the Chough having 
been seen on the east coast by the light-keepers. The Magpie is 
apparently not a migratory bird in Ireland. The observations 
on the Cuckoo and Corncrake are few, when it is remembered 
they are well-known and regular visitors. There is, so far, no 
record of the Cuckoo having struck the lanterns, and but one 
instance of the Corncrake so doing. It has been stated as an 
“undoubted fact” (Yarrell, 4th ed., vol. iii, p. 324), by Mr 
Howard Saunders, that the Woodcock often makes its appear- 
ance on the south and west coasts of Ireland before it is noticed 
in the north and east. The light-keepers’ schedules do not 
contradict this statement; but their observations are not yet 
sufficiently numerous to confirm it beyond a doubt. The north- 
ward movement of the Whimbrel (May Bird or young Curlew) 
has been well marked every year. On the return journey they 
are either confounded with the Curlew, or if they take the same 
