of the Birds of Ireland. 275 



tribe, partridge, &c., will be found treated under the species, 

 as will be the great increase and decrease of the black-head- 

 ed gull, at particular localities. 



It is not on the land only that changes have taken place. 

 Wigeons, in consequence of being too much disturbed in Bel- 

 fast Bay, by increase of shipping, steam-vessels, &c., even by 

 night — their feeding time — have greatly diminished within the 

 last twenty years. Previous to that period, they arrived here 

 every evening at twilight, in vast numbers from Strangford 

 Lough, and after remaining to feed during the night, again 

 retired every morning before daybreak, to the comparative 

 quietude of its waters. Morning and evening, shooters took 

 their station on the hill-tops, over which the birds often flew 

 within shot ; but, of late, such " occupation's" gone. Simi- 

 lar changes respecting others of the Anatidce, and also of the 

 Grallatores^ will be found under the respective species. The 

 beautiful and graceful roseate tern has nearly, if not wholly, 

 disappeared within the last few years!from a favourite annual 

 breeding-haunt, the Mew Island, at the entrance of Belfast 

 Bay, the result, I grieve to say, of wanton cruelty. Persons 

 go to the island every summer to shoot these birds, and the 

 closely allied arctic and common terns, while they have their 

 eggs or young. Should one even of a different species be 

 brought to the ground, while the others are a little distant, 

 they make common cause, wheel down towards their fallen 

 comrade, as if to compassionate its fate, and are even at such 

 times " savagely slaughtered." The shooters have no object 

 in view, but the heartless one of using as targets these beauti- 

 ful and innocent creatures, which are afterwards flung away 

 as useless. 



Other birds have mcreased in number of late years ; the 

 most striking example of which, for a regular and steady 

 augmentation, is the missel-thrush. The long- tailed tit has 

 also become gradually more plentiful ; the extension of planta- 

 tions is accessory to this end, in respect to both species. 

 The singular increase of snow-buntings during a few winters 

 will be found noticed ; as will that of crossbills in recent years. 

 Allusion to the rapid multiplication of the magpie, from the 

 period of its introduction to the island, must not be omitted. 

 The fact of the starling having deserted the town of Belfast 



