436 
[Ibis, 
Major W. R. Thompson on the 
Falco tinimnculus. The Kestrel. 
A common resident ; in fact, more numerous here than 
I have ever seen it in any part of England, except possibly 
in one locality in the Isle of Wight last autumn, when it 
may, perhaps, have been migrating. 
Mr. Eagle Clark found it extremely abundant during the 
last weeks in September 1898, and concluded therefrom that, 
in the case of Alderney, Mr. Cecil Smith was mistaken in 
his assumption that its numbers are not increased during the 
migratory season. My own opinion, however, based on 
several seasons* observation, is that Mr. Cecil Smith was 
correct and that this bird does not visit Alderney as a bird of 
passage, at least to any appreciable extent. 
The number actually present on the island is constantly 
varying throughout the year by interchange of visits to and 
from the coast of France, and I think that very likely during 
Mr. Eagle Clarke’s visit some of the French birds may have 
been here, but it may also be that he underestimated the 
number of residential birds. In walking round the island 
I should expect to encounter, in normal times, from twelve 
to twenty birds and very possibly more, whilst the occasions 
when one or two are not in sight are rare. If this number 
were collected together on one part of the island for any 
reason, such as the abundance of coleoptera, it might easily 
account for the number seen, and if in addition, and probably 
for the same reason, individuals had arrived from France, 
the number would be still more easily accounted for. 
Phalacrocorax carbo. The Cormorant. 
An uncommon winter visitor, and possibly a resident in 
very small numbers, but I have not myself found it breeding 
here, nor do I think that I have seen it here in the breeding- 
season, and I only include it as a resident on the authority 
of Mr. Cecil Smith, who states that one or two pairs breed 
at Burhou. Mr. Eagle Clarke found this species very 
abundant during his visit in September 1898. I have myself 
only very occasionally noticed it in the winter months, and 
have only once seen as many as three together. According 
