52 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Pochard (Fuligula ferina). — The foregoing remarks may also be ap- 

 plied to this species. 



Black Scoter (Oidemia nigra). — One day last month, near Bartra, a 

 pair of black ducks flew close past me, and as they were all over of a 

 sooty blackness, without a. particle of white being visible, I am inclined 

 to consider them of this species. 



Long- tailed Duck {Karelda glacialis). — This very beautiful bird may 

 be set down as a regular winter visitant to the Bay of Killala : it arrives 

 in October and November, and occasionally delays its departure in spring 

 as late as the first or second week in May. As they seldom come inside 

 of the Killala or the Moy Bar, but keep in the open bay, they are not 

 easily observed, and particularly as they often feed just outside and 

 partly in the surf that is continually rolling on the bay side of Bartra ; 

 however, although, when unseen, their peculiar cry will always direct 

 the attention of the observer towards them, for, when once heard, it can 

 never after be mistaken for that of any other bird. I have observed 

 them every winter or spring from 1851 to 1856, both included, except 

 the winter of 1853, during which they did not appear on the river, and 

 I had not the opportunity of searching their haunts in the bay. I shot 

 a young male on the river on the 25th of April, 1855; it is now in the 

 collection of my esteemed friend, Dr. Harvey of Cork. Is it not curious 

 that the greater part of the flocks seen here consist apparently of old 

 males? A flock containing upwards of fifty individuals, seen on the 31st 

 of October, 1856, showed the same disproportion of the sexes; fully 

 three-fourths appeared to be old males. 



Golden-Eye (Clangula vulgaris). — Is seldom seen on the river before 

 February or March, when a few small flocks frequent the river, near 

 Belleek, about a mile from the town of Ballina ; they are not usually seen 

 farther down the river, unless when disturbed by the shipping or boats. 



Bed-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). — This species is very nu- 

 merous during winter and spring on the bay and river; they were more 

 numerous than usual this season; on the 31st of last October, at the 

 north of Bartra, I saw a flock of upwards of 500 birds; during winter 

 they stay more in the bay than the river, but in spring they resort in 

 large numbers to the latter. In summer very few are seen, but not one 

 to fifty in winter ; I have seen them on Lough Conn in July, and was 

 informed that a few breed on some unfrequented islands there. 



Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus). — This rare bird has been occasionally 

 seen on the river. On the 6th of February, 1852, I observed a pair of 

 small grebes swimming in the small channel between Bartra and Moyne 

 Abbey; on shooting one, it proved to be of this species; and in winter 

 plumage showing very little colour on the ear- tufts. On another occasion, 

 in the winter of 1855, I observed for a long time a small grebe, and, 

 from the peculiar shape of its head and bill, I have no doubt but that it 

 was the P. auritus; it allowed of very close observation, as I brought 

 my boat within six or eight yards of where it was fishing. 



Little Grebe (Podiceps minor). — Is seldom seen on the river unless 

 when driven by frost from the inland waters. 



