SUBUN WATDTBIL HI8T0RT 80CIJSTT. 83 



Although tho great starling roost which I had the gratification of 

 visiting in the county of Donegal, in the commencement of this winter, 

 was far, far inferior, in point of numbers, to that in the Phoenix Park, 

 yet I thought it of sufficient interest to make a note of at the time, 

 and that note I now have the pleasure of submitting to the Society. 



I went to Lough Fern, a beautifully situated sheet of water, of about 

 three miles in length, on tho 19th of November last, with a friend, an 

 ardent lover of ornithology, the Rev. Robert Harvey. Our principal 

 object in going was, to ascertain how many species of Anatidao frequented 

 the lake. At the western end of tho lough there are immense beds of 

 reeds {Arundo phraff mitts), standing many feet in height out of the water. 

 Near to the inner edge of these I took my position to have a shot at the 

 evening flight of ducks. 



Shortly before dusk we remarked small parties of starlings begin to 

 arrive. These circled about over the reeds, every few moments receiv- 

 ing considerable accessions to their numbers. Presently, larger bodies 

 made their appearance, and, joining their comrades, formed one immense 

 flock. This flock then split into two companies, one circling over the 

 reeds on the northern side, and the other, apparently endeavouring to 

 rival their friends in the beauty of their aerial evolutions, on the south- 

 em side; sometimes rising to a considerable height, and forming the 

 most beautiful figures against the clear evening sky ; then again making 

 a downward rush, until the sough of their wings resembled the roar of a 

 mountain torrent, they would disappear amongst the reeds ; for a mo- 

 ment all would be still — no sound to be heard but the mournful sigh of 

 the wind through the tall reeds, the whistle of the \Wdgeon {Anas pent- 

 lope) far out on the lough, or the call of the partridge in the adjoining 

 fields; when suddenly a strange guttural chatter would strike upon 

 the ear, overcoming every other sound. This would continue a few 

 moments only, and then, with a noise like a tempest, would the mighty 

 flock arise once more. 



These evolutions continued until it was pretty dark, when the im- 

 mense multitude finally settled among the reeds. The estimate I made 

 of their numbers, at the time, was 18,000 or 20,000; but since then 

 I have come to the conclusion that they fiu* exceeded that amount. 



In reply to inquiries I have since made, I find that they have re- 

 sorted there for a great many years ; that they have latterly, especially 

 this winter, greatly increased ; they commence coming there for the piu*- 

 pose of roosting about November, and disappear by degrees in spring. 

 I observed in several parts of the countr}', though many miles from 

 Lough Fern, parties of starlings, towards evening, all flying in the di- 

 rection of the lough, and my friend, Mr. Harvey, tells me he has ob- 

 served them in the morning fljing apparently from it. 



"VVTiat surprises me is the fact of their continuing to frequent the same 

 place for so many years, as I have, in every other instance which has come 

 under my oi\ti observation, foimd the starlings very capricious with regard 

 to their roosting-place. I have known several instances in Donegal and 

 other counties of their frequenting a place for some years, and then to- 



