Allen on the Destruction of Birds by Light-houses. 131 
DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS BY LIGHT-HOUSES. 
BY J. A. ALLEN. 
That multitudes of birds are killed during their migrations by 
flying against the lanterns of light-houses and light-ships is well 
known, at least to ornithologists and keepers of light-stations. In 
respect to this country, however, no general account of such fatali- 
ties and the circumstances under which they occur has been made, 
although considerable attention has lately been given to the matter 
by British naturalists, with special reference to the migration of 
European birds.* Some years since, Mr. Ruthven Deane sent out 
letters of inquiry to various light-keepers on our own coast for the 
purpose of eliciting information respecting the general subject of 
birds striking the lights; and the replies received by him, which he 
has recently placed in my hands, form the basis of the present ar- 
ticle, abstracts of which are here presented. In many cases the 
information is rather meagre, as would be naturally expected, ow- 
ing to the inability of the reporters to recognize the species of birds 
that are destroyed by the lights, or to appreciate just the nature of 
the information required ; yet their replies contribute something of 
value respecting the frequency of such occurrences and the circum- 
stances attending them. Not only are our thanks due to these ob- 
servers for their kindness in transmitting reports, but I am especially 
under obligations to Mr. Deane for placing these results at my dis- 
posal. There is, however, little to be said on the matter beyond 
what the abstracts themselves present. 
1 . Wood Island Light , near entrance to Saco harbor, Me. A flashing 
red light ; height above sea level, 62 feet. Albert Norwood, keeper. Re- 
port dated March 4, 1877. — Of late years very few birds have flown 
against the light ; during the last four years not more than 30 or 40 have 
been thus killed. They usually strike during foggy weather, in August 
and September. 
2. Egg Rock Light , near the entrance of Frenchman’s Bay, Mount 
Desert, four miles from Bar Harbor, Me., and two miles from any head- 
* See especially the “Report on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 
1879. ” By John A. Harvie-Brown and John Cordeaux. Zoologist, May, 
1880, pp. 161 - 204. Also the literature there cited relating to the subject. 
