14^ The Irish Naturalisl. 



that, since the discovery of this species breeding in Ireland, 

 both first and second ckitches are regularly taken for col- 

 lectors, one gentleman in England having received three 

 clutches one season from near Dungloe, probably indicating 

 a second pair of birds. The Red-throated Diver will soon be 

 driven from its breeding haunts in Donegal unless it can be 

 protected, if it be not too late already. 



On our way to Gweedore the driver remarked that Thrushes 

 and Blackbirds, which we rarely saw, were more numerous in 

 winter, thus confirming the observation of Rev. A. H. Delap 

 to the same effect concerning the western woodless parts of 

 Donegal. 



On June 5th, embarking in a boat, we sailed round Owey 

 Island, the western side of which is full of fissures in which 

 a number of Black Guillemots appeared to be breeding, as we 

 saw more of them about the spot than I have ever seen else- 

 where. A pair of Great Black-backs seem to have their nest 

 on a lofty stack of rock. We saw Swifts, too, off this remote 

 island. 



On Innishfree we found three Turnstones, two of which 

 were in full breeding-plumage. It is the third instance in 

 which I have met with Turnstones off the Irish coast in June, 

 but apparently not breeding. We also saw a Dunlin in 

 breeding-plumage. We saw a great number of adult Gannets 

 throughout the day, though they do not breed nearer than 

 Ailsa Craig, also many Manjc Shearwaters. Choughs were 

 seen on the coast, which is rather low and sand3% and after 

 landing we were shown a most peculiar inland breedrng-^^lace 

 of this bird. 



We had come up the estuary of a little river to a village. 

 Proceeding inland over a bare tract, chiefly rock, we came to 

 a bridge over this river about a mile and a half from the open 

 sea ; above this bridge the river flowed through a low narrow 

 gorge in the granite, with perpendicular sides. On one side, 

 where a deep part of the river occurs, the rock overhangs, 

 forming a canopy over a receding ledge or shelf on which the 

 Chough's nest is placed. We saw the Choughs issue from it, 

 and the rock beneath the canopy covered with their dung. 

 Their eggs had been taken from this nest on previous years. 

 Colonel Crampton Lees has seen a flock of forty-three Choughs 

 about the estuary in autumn. 



