134 Allen on the Destruction of Birds by Liglii-houses. 
cock, keeper. April 7, 1877. — A few small birds fly against the lantern 
in summer. 
1 7. Navesink Light , Highlands of Navesink, N. J. Fixed white light ; 
height, 248 feet. Daniel P. Caulkins, keeper. March 24, 1880. — “Have 
kept this light for only eighteen months. Robins and Woodcocks are 
found dead from flying against it. Also one Duck, which came with such 
force as to break the glass. Found most frequently in heavy weather, 
with the wind southeast or east, during the winter months, sometimes a 
dozen or more in a night.” 
18. Cape May Light, Cape May, N. J. Flashing white light; height, 
152 feet. Samuel Stillwell, keeper. March 25, 1880. — Reports that great 
numbers of small birds of all kinds strike the light in spring. Sometimes 
as many as 200 are seen dead on the ground at one time. The kinds 
especially mentioned are “ Chipping Birds,” Robins, Catbirds, Flickers, 
Red Birds, and Sparrows. Sometimes the light is struck during heavy 
storms by Black Ducks and various kinds of sea-fowl, but not nearly so 
often as formerly. The light is a very powerful revolving light. 
19. Cape Hatteras Light, N. C. Flashing white light ; height, 191 feet. 
N. P. Jennett, keeper. April 20, 1877. — Snipe are killed by flying against 
the light in April and September ; 60 to 75 frequently found dead at one 
time. Curlews and Willets, and two other kinds of shore birds called 
“ Pebo ” and “ Sea-chickens,” occasionally strike the light during the 
months of June, July, and August, seldom more than one or two in a night. 
The “ Marsh Hen ” now and then strikes the light at all seasons of the 
year. About September 1, Teals strike the light, sometimes as many 
as 8 in one night. The “ Myrtle Birds ” come on only one night in the 
year ; this is in September. They come in great numbers, 200 to 300 
being sometimes killed in one night. Other birds unknown to the reporter 
are also occasionally found dead, but by far the greater number consist of 
Myrtle Birds * and Snipe. In this connection the following may be quoted 
from a letter by Professor Baird, published some time since in the “Amer- 
ican Sportsman ” newspaper : — 
“ On the night of October 17, 1876, I was on the top of Cape Hatteras 
light-house. It was a very dark night, and £ misting.’ The wind was 
blowing thirty-five miles an hour from the northeast. As soon as it was 
fairly dark, I could see thousands of small birds flying around the leeward 
of the tower. It was a grand sight, as the lens of the light would per- 
form its steady revolution, throwing its dazzling rays upon them while 
seeking shelter by hovering close up under the lee of the tower. As 
soon as the light would fall upon them, they would fly from it and 
come in contact with the lantern with such force that they were in- 
* The Myrtle Birds, here and elsewhere mentioned in these abstracts, may 
embrace other species of the genus Dmdro&ca than the D. coronata, to which 
this name usually pertains. 
