134 
The Irish Naturalist. 
June, 
The Gannet. 
"This bird," writes Mr. McGinlcy, "has now extended 
its breeding -range to the S.W. side of the Little SkelHg, 
and if they keep on extending as they have been doing for 
the past few years, the Little Skellig will soon be literally 
covered with them. As it is, from the N. through E. to 
S.S.W., the rock is white with Gannets. There remains but 
a very limited space on the S.W. point that is not actually 
covered with them, and they have now appeared at this 
point for the first time. They are becoming more numerous 
every year." 
The Little SkelHg is the oldest breeding-station in Ireland, 
being known to Smith in 1756. Thompson, in 1850, 
estimated the number breeding at 500 pairs. In 1880, I 
estimated there were only 30 to 40 pairs. In 1882, Sir 
R. P. Gal way's estimate was 150 pairs ; in 1884 they were 
increasing ; in 1890 Mr. Turle considered there were several 
thousand pairs. In 1906, when sailing round the Little 
Skellig, and by counting the birds in a given area, I 
estimated the total number from 15,000 to 20,000, thus 
probably exceeding in numbers any other colony on the 
West Coast of Europe. 
The Fulmar. 
In the Irish Naturalist for August, 191 1 (p. 148), the late 
Mr. R. J. Ussher first recorded the Fulmar as an Irish breed- 
ing bird. In the September number of the Journal, he 
gave details of his most interesting discovery on July loth 
of the same year when in company with Herr Lindner, 
an experienced German ornithologist. They counted 
eighteen birds sitting on the face of a north Mayo cliff 
one mile east of Portacloy. 
Mr. Ussher then stated that about twenty Fulmars were 
said to have been seen about an " Ulster Cliff " the previous 
year, 1910, and remained there during the breeding season. 
This " Ulster Cliff" is situated on the N.W. side of Horn 
Head in Co. Donegal. I visited it on June 27th, 1913, and 
found about 70 pairs of Fulmars nesting. Mr. Ussher told 
