134 



The Irish Naturalist. 



December, 



Honey Buzzard near Belfast. 



On June 28th, 1920, Messrs. Sheals, the well-known Belfast Taxi- 

 dermists, received for preservation a Honey Buzzard [Pernis apivorus) 

 which had been shot at Suffolk, Dunmurry, a well-wooded district near 

 Belfast. On dissection it proved to be a male, and its crop contained 

 a large quantity of Ants' eggs. It is interesting to note that the bird 

 had every appearance of having been nesting, its breast being bare, and 

 the boy who obtained it informed Messrs. Sheals thait he had seer^ it about 

 for some time previously. 



Glenorchy, Knock, Belfast. Herbert T. Malcomson. 



Little Stint and Fork-tailed Petrel obtained on 

 Migration. 



Although well known to migrate regularly, I believe that the late Mr. 

 Barrington never received a specimen of the Little Stint from an Irish 

 light-station, at least not during the years 1881-97 (" Migration of Birds 

 at Irish light-stations," p. 215 of the Analysis of Reports). Through the 

 kindness of Mr. J. Hamilton, Principal Keeper at St. John's Point light- 

 house, Co. Donegal, I received a specimen in flesh killed at that station on 

 September 26th last. The bird struck the telegraph wire, and with such 

 force that the right wing was completely severed from the body and was 

 picked up separately. The bird 'was a female, the body emaciated, and 

 the stomach empty. Weather conditions — Wind south, force 6, cloudy 

 and squally. 



The Fork-tailed Petrel I collected myself at Slyne Head lighthouse. 

 The bird, I am informed, had been killed, striking a few nights previous 

 to my arrival, and I found it at the foot of the tower. It probably struck, 

 then, about September 18 th. On examination the bird proved to be a 

 female. The stomach was empty. The marks on the head resulting from 

 striking the lantern were only slight. Mr. Barrington stated (" Migration of 

 Birds at Irish Light Stations," p. 240 of Analysis of Reports) that there was 

 no direct evidence of the migration of this species in September. In the 

 light of this the above record is of interest. 



Bloomfield, HoUymount, Co. Mayo. Robert F. Rut 1 ledge. 



Great Black-backed Gull nesting in Co. Down. 



I have pleasure in recording the nesting ol the Great Black-backed 

 Gull {Lavus muyiniis) in Co. Down. On the 22nd June, 1918, I discovered 

 a nest containing three eggs on an island off the coast close to a colony 

 of Herring Gulls, and again on the 20th June, 1920, a pair had a ne.st 

 containing three eggs in quite a different locality, whilst I saw another 

 pair, which undoubtedly had young judging by their movements. The 

 average measurements of the chitch examined tliis year arc 3* i ins. x 2*05 

 ins. 



Glenorchy, Knock, Belf.ist, Herbert T. Malcomson- 



