Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/356

330 Liltle Auk, Alca alle.—Has only twice come under my notice. On the 22nd December, 1862, I found four nice specimens thrown up by the surf on the Enniscrone sands, and a fifth on the Moyview shore. Although dead they were quite fresh and uninjured. Again, on the 17th December, 1863, I found a beautiful specimen thrown up by the surf on the same part of the sands.

Puffin, Mormon fratercula.—Only met with in winter, and these were dead birds (chiefly young of the year) thrown up by the surf on the Enniscrone sands. On one occasion I found two birds alive, but so thoroughly waterlogged as to be unable to move.

Razorbill, Alca tarda.—Breeds on the same cliffs as the Guillemots. Occasionally in winter I have found dead birds cast ashore on the Bartragh sands.

Cormorant, Carbo cormoranus.—Very common on the estuary and river, extending its fishing excursions also to the inland lakes. It breeds about Downpatrick Head in considerable numbers. When visiting the fresh water they commit great havoc amongst the trout and salmon fry. One shot this spring on the Bunree—a tributary of the Moy—had twelve or fourteen trout in its stomach, one of which was nine inches long.

Green Cormorant, Carbo cristatus.—Numerous on the tidal parts of the river and estuary. It appears to be strictly marine in its habits, for I have never seen it either on the lake or upper part of the river. It breeds at Killcummin Head and on other suitable cliffs round the coast.

Gannet, Sula bassana.—Often seen during summer in the bay, and probably breeds on the Stags of Broadhaven and other similar islands off the Achill coast. I cannot say with certainty whether it breeds on the Mayo coast, for it is difficult to obtain reliable information. Few persons here take any interest in our sea-birds; and I have had neither time nor opportunity to explore the parts of the coast to which I refer.

Glaucous Gull, Larus glaucus.—Has not come under my notice so often as the Iceland Gull, and is of a much more wary and distrustful nature, at least such is my experience. In 1859 I first saw the Glaucous Gull during some snow, on the 14th December, when I came across a fine bird on the shore here, which, although I fired at and severely wounded it, unfortunately got away. In March, 1871, I saw an adult bird on two occasions, but was unable to secure it; and several times during January, 1873, I saw