144 ^^^^' ^^'^^^^ ISlatujatist. 



the Kagle. Previously to 1S91 it was last occupied in 1SS7, 

 when two young Eagles were taken from it in Ma}^ the nest 

 then containing some hares and a grouse. Since 1887 the 

 Eagles had brought out their broods unmolested in the sea 

 cliffs. In 1891 before the breeding season two Eagles were 

 said to have been shot b)^ a farmer. It is the only place in 

 Donegal where any continue to breed. A gentleman told us 

 that he had formerly shot Eagles off their nest near Eough 

 Easke, and further north we were told by Colonel Crampton 

 Lees that Eagles used to breed between Errigal and Muckish. 



On June 2nd, we passed through Ardara, and walked through 

 a marshy tract separated from the sea by sandhills. In this 

 niar.sh Snipe and Lapwings were breeding numerousl}', and on 

 the drier portion covered with tussocks of coarse grass I 

 started a Dunlin from her nest containing four eggs. It was 

 overshadowed by the long grass and comfortably lined with 

 liner grass. We saw and heard quite a number of Dunlins, 

 whose twirring note is so unlike that of other species. I learn 

 from Mr. J. Steele-ElHot, who visited this marsh on 8th June, 

 1892, that he found five Dunlins' nests there. 



'"" Driving towards Portnoo, through a stony tract, in which 

 were small lakes, we found a number of Common Gulls 

 assembled on a small grassy island in one of them. On ex- 

 amining the spot we found twenty-three nests, recently de- 

 spoiled of all their eggs, and one nest containing eggs ready 

 to hatch, as the young birds were squeaking in them. We 

 subsequently found a few nests of the Common Gull on islets 

 in lakes near Dungloe. This species breeds in the barer 

 parts of Donegal and Western Connaught, and a very few on 

 one of the Kerry isles, but further south than this it is not 

 believed to breed, nor anj^where on the eastern side of Ireland, 

 where it is exclusively a winter visitor. It is thus the most 

 local of our six breeding species of gulls, and Ireland is the 

 southern limit of its breeding-range in Western Europe. 



Passing Portnoo we drove to Glenties. It was getting dusk, 

 and in more than one place where there were low trees or 

 bushes we remarked Cuckoos collecting to roost, as they are 

 wont to do in bare tracts like this district wherever there is a 

 little covert. We often met with Cuckoos, though the Magpie 

 seems to be a scarce bird in Western Donegal. 



