IRISH COAST. 119 



IEISH COAST. 



The number of stations returning schedules shows a slight 

 falling off since last year ; but this is compensated for by some 

 light-keepers, who take a greater interest in the subject, sending 

 three, four, and even five schedules. A column has been added 

 to the list of lighthouses, showing the number of schedules re- 

 ceived from each station. 



Mine Head, Tuskar, Eockabill, and Innishtrahull are fore- 

 most in number ; but good schedules have been received from 

 the Fastnet, Coningbeg, Eagle Island (East), and Blackrock 

 (Mayo), and a few other localities. 



The marked feature of 1886 has been the number of legs and 

 wings forwarded — numbering about one hundred — cut from 

 birds killed striking the lanterns. In some cases specimens 

 were received in the flesh ; and it is to be hoped that in all 

 cases of rare birds this will be done in future. Generally 

 speaking, the legs and wings can be identified with certainty, 

 and they have been all carefully preserved for reference. Any 

 doubts which may exist about a species will be removed if the 

 light-keepers send a leg and wing of every bird killed striking, 

 with the schedule, in the envelopes provided for this purpose. 



The stations sending most specimens were the Tuskar, 

 Eockabill, and Mine Head ; but they were also received from 

 eleven others. The rarities received were numerous. Mr 

 Thomas Fortune sent the second Irish specimen of the Wry- 

 neck from Arran Island, N., Co. Galway, killed striking at 2 

 a.m. on October 6th. The first specimen was shot at Dun- 

 more, Co. Waterford, October 5th, 1877. From Mr Francis 

 Eyan, of the Tearaght, Co. Kerry, only four wings and legs 

 were received ; but two of these proved rarities, one belonging 

 to the Pied Flycatcher, caught at lantern September 21st, and 

 the other to the Eeed Warbler, found dead October 4th. Both 

 species had only once before been recorded from Ireland. 

 The Pied Flycatcher occurred at Ballina, Co. Mayo, in April 

 1875. The Eeed Warbler is said to have been shot near 

 Dublin on December 21st, 1843, but no specimen exists. 

 Another leg and wing of the Pied Flycatcher, killed striking 



