The Irish Naturalist: 
June, 
the ravages of worms, insects, etc., had become dried and 
preserved after a fashion by sun and wind ; (b) skeletons, 
in similar sites, the soft parts having been devoured by 
insects, etc., such skeletons were often in a good state of 
preservation ; (c) birds in varying stages of decomposition, 
such were generally in dampish spots, sometimes exposed, 
sometimes imbedded in rotting sea-weed or other decaying 
matter, and showing the carcase swarming with insect- 
larvee, etc. These decomposing specimens had to be 
handled with the utmost care, lest they should fall to pieces 
and some of the most valuable parts become lost, before 
being transferred to spirit for preservation and subsequent 
analysis. It was highly satisfactory to find that in cases 
where the remains were of even a most fragmentary charac- 
ter identification of the species was possible. The data 
obtained were most interesting, for, in addition to enriching 
the collection of common birds (which on migration frequent 
Tuskar light-station), for the purposes of studying variation, 
racial forms, and other points which it would be out of 
place to detail here, I welcomed by this method of securing 
material the objective evidence obtained of the presence of 
several species whose visits were far less noticeable. Further- 
more, the only evidence of the presence at Tuskar during 
migration of certain species was founded on an examina- 
tion of fragmentary remains.^ Statistics have proved to 
me that immense numbers of birds pass Tuskar light- 
station on migration, numbers are killed or disabled by 
striking the lantern ; a significant proportion of these fall 
on the rock. Then again, apart from the question of 
vigorous birds which, winging their way in their normal 
migration flights, may alight only for a short time on the 
rock, there are also considerable numbers which arrive 
through stress of weather, and may become storm-bound, 
while others, already exhausted from having lost their way, 
may also reach the rock. In both cases many of these 
migrants end their days in nooks or crevices. At times 
(^) As an interesting example I may say that the only objective 
evidence I have heretofore of the Bramble-Finch on migration at this 
Light-station has been obtained from an inspection of a wet decom- 
posing bird, collected on the dome of the lantern. 
