NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 159 



shot one after he had seen it, he says, lift an egg in its bill 

 which had been dropped by a duck, and hide it some distance 

 off in a " cow-track," — that is, a depression in the ground caused 

 by the cow's feet. This bird used to be seen about Ramelton, 

 but not since 1858, when one was well known for its capturing 

 stray fowls, but always escaped the gun. 



As for the birds near at hand, there is a sufficient variety to 

 maintain one's interest in these charming neighbours. The Song 

 Thrush {Turdus musicus) makes musical the dawn and the gloam- 

 ing, from February on till the middle of April. One particularly 

 fine performer sings from a horse-chesnut in the garden, and with 

 such effect that the village folk will come over sometimes, 

 specially to hear what they call " the Irish nightingale," though 

 in other parts of Ireland that title is given only to the Sedge 

 Warbler {Salicaria ]jhmcjinitis). The Magpie {Pica caiidata) is 

 constantly with us, and a colony of Jackdaws (Corviis monedida) 

 builds in some of the old chimneys. The Wren (Troglodytes vul- 

 garis), Bullfinch (Pyrrhula vulgaris), and Swallow {Rirundo nistica) 

 build about the place, and we are infested with Blackbirds {Turdus 

 menda). In the winter you may see any day on the river behind 

 my house the Common Heron (Ardea cinerea), the Water-hen 

 {Gallinula chloropus), and the Cormorant {Phalocrocorax carlo) ; 

 while in early summer, or sometimes even on a winter's day, 

 one may mark the gleam of the Kingfisher (Alcedo isjnda) in his 

 swift flight up the stream. Widgeon (Anas penelope), Teal (Anas 

 crecca), and Bernicle geese (under which name are known both 

 Anser torquatus and A. leucopsis) frequent the muddy flats of the 

 Swilly in winter, and are shot in numbers by those enthusiastic 

 enough to lie out all night in a flat-bottomed boat. 



Archaeology. — By the student of antiquity this county of 

 Donegal is held in reverence, as the birthplace of Saint Columb, 

 and numerous are the legends connecting him with every hill 

 and island and lough. 



The island of Torry is said to have been the scene of his mis- 

 sionary labours and miraculous exploits ; but be that as it may, 

 it is full of interest to the antiquary. 



Besides two old crosses — one of them of limestone, which must 

 have been brought from a great distance — and the ruins of a 

 preaching station, it contains a round tower in fair preservation. 

 This round tower is of small dimensions — the height not exceed- 



