1899] Notes 187 



they filled the air like a flock of Rooks, and then settled together on the 

 lake at some distance. Besides the Cormorants a number of Herons 

 breed on this island, but occupy the interior of it, their huge basket-like 

 nests contrasting with the smaller ones built by the former birds. Both 

 species resort to a neighbouring inlet of the sea to fish. 



I have seen Cormorants nesting in trees on Lough Key, near Bo}le, 

 but there is nothing like the imposing colony I have described above. 



The Cormorant ordinarily breeds on open ledges of the sea-cliffs or on 

 the tops of large isolated rocks, and it is rarely indeed that one meets 

 with a breeding place in trees. However, this species commonly resorts 

 to inland waters, so that it is more likely to remain and breed there Its 

 congener, the .Shag, is exclusively marine in its habits, and far out- 

 numbers the larger Cormorant on the west coast of Ireland. 



The birds of the former species I have lately seen have all lost the 



crests that adorn them in spring, and those of the latter have lost the 



winter patch on the thigh. 



R. J. USSHER. 

 Cappagh, Lismore. 



Bar-tailed Codwlts In the IVIoy Estuary. 



An unusually large number of Godwits (Li/nosa lapponicd) have 

 remained about the lands of the estuary and bay this summer. When 

 returning from Bartragh in my boat on the 5th instant I observed about 

 a hundred birds on the shore of Baunros. On the 13th of June, on the 

 lands near Moyne Abbey, I saw several flocks, numbering fully 150 birds 

 altogether, and amongst one small group I observed a bird in the red 

 plumage of summer, a very unusual sight in this district, for the birds in 

 breeding plumage do not pass along this coast to their breeding haunts 

 as they do on the east coast of England, apparently all the birds with 

 few exceptions that frequent this coast being immature, too young for 

 breeding. 



Robkrt Warrkn. 



Ballina. 



Black Scoter In the IVIoy Estuary. 



While returning from Bartragh on the 5th inst. I observed a black 

 duck diving in the channel off Goose Island, and not being able to 

 identify it with my glass, I let the boat drift up with the tide until within 

 range, when I fired, the bird diving on the instant. However when 

 coming up again, it rose, and I brought down with my second barrel 

 a beautiful adult Black Scoter ((Edemia nigra) in perfect breeding plumage. 

 The yellow patch on bill was very bright, while the plumage was like 

 black velvet, soft and shining. It was the first time that I ever met this 

 duck in summer, although Scoters are common in the bay in winter, yet 

 they seldom come into the channels of the estuary. 



Robert Warren. 



Moyview, Ballina. 



