148 The Irish Naturalist. 



As we were walking round the tops of the higher cliffs, 

 practically on a mountain-top, we met a female Ring Ouzel \ 

 which chuckled and displayed herself close to us, to lure us ; 

 from her young—just able to fly. We had met with the Ring r. 

 Ouzel from time to time in the mountainous and rocky parts 

 of Western Donegal, much lower down than it is usually found 

 in other counties. ; 



On June 8th, I proceeded alone to Knniskillen, where I was 

 informed by Mr. Thomas Plunkett, the well-known antiquarian, 

 that he has often taken Choughs' eggs at Knockmore, a 

 mountain in Co. Fermanagh, about ten miles from the sea. 

 I had heard of this nesting-site of Choughs from another 

 gentleman. 



On June 9th, taking a boat, I sailed twelve miles down Lower 

 Lough Erne, a splendid lake abounding in islands covered with 

 natural wood, chiefly of oak, tracts covered with which are 

 preserv^ed on the neighbouring estates. I here became 

 acquainted with several species of birds, new to me, in their 

 breeding haunts. 



At Devenish we put up a pair of Shovellers from a reed* 

 bed. As we advanced we found Mergansers numerous, nearly 

 every island seeming to be inhabited by a pair. At an island 

 where is a large ancient cross we met with Redshanks breed- 

 ing, one of which sat on the top of a White-thorn bush uttering 

 his alarm-cr3^ I here saw six Mergansers and six Tufted 

 Ducks, and found the nest of the latter species in a bank or 

 old fence among long grass, black- thorn, scrub, etc. It 

 contained seven fresh eggs. 



While passing an open reach of the lake we saw a pair of 

 Great Crested Grebes swimming, with little more to be seen ' 

 than the top of the back and the long thin stick-like neck and ' 

 quaint tufts or tippet. Their note was not unlike the croak 

 of a Rook, and when diving they sank quietly forwards with- 

 out a splash. 



We came to a small stony islet over which hovered a 

 vociferous cloud of Black-headed Gulls. It was strewn with ' 

 their numerous nests, most of which had two or three eggs ; . 

 some contained young. Some Wild Ducks and Mergansers . 

 flew up, but several Tufted Ducks swam off low in the water, 

 of these we found two nests with eggs among tall grass or ' 



