CampbkIvI.. — Birds of Inch and Upper Lough S willy. 21 



The large expanse of fresh water with great ground growth 

 of w^eeds provides a fine feeding resort for the Anatidae. 

 Swans, Geese, and Ducks abound. The Whooper {Cyg7ius musi- 

 ens, Bechstein)|is very rare. Bewick's Swan (C Bewiekiy Yarrell) 

 is a common winter visitor, flocks coming in during severe 

 weather. During a spell of hard frost in the winter of 1907 a 

 Black Swan came with the Bewicks, and remained at Inch for 

 a few weeks. The Mute Swan (C olor, Gmelin) has increased 

 very much of late. Years ago a few birds frequented the fresh 

 water at Inch. Year by year these increased until now up to 

 100 birds may be counted. Only two pairs nest at Inch, one 

 pair on the Farland bank or island, and the other on a little 

 grassy mound inside the Burt bank, and just beside the Letter- 

 kenny railway line. The great increase in Mute Swans is 

 clearly due to an influx from other places. The wild geese 

 are represented by five species. The Grey-lag {Ansereinereus, 

 Meyer) is not common. The common wild goose is the White- 

 fronted {A. albifrons, Scopoli). It visits the sloblands in 

 large numbers in winter, and remains until late spring. I 

 have seen a flock on 23rd May, and it has been reported to me 

 even at later dates. These geese become very tame at Inch, and 

 I have seen a flock feeding close to the railway line, not more 

 than 70 to 80 yards from the passing train. 



I had the pleasure of obtaining the first Irish specimen of 

 the Pink-footed Goose {A. brachyrhynehus^ Baillon) on 21st 

 October, 189 1. Passing the poulterers I noticed a wild goose 

 lying on the counter. The legs looked pink, so I went in 

 and examined the bird, and was delighted to see that I had 

 found A. brachy?hy7ichus. The man told me that he had 

 received the bird from a farmer from Newtowncunningham- 

 side, a few miles from Inch. The Bernacle {Bernicla leucopsis, 

 Bechstein) is not common. A few have been, shot at long inter- 

 vals. The Brent {B. brenia, Pallas) visits the salt water in 

 large flocks. I have never known a Brent to alight on the 

 fresh water, although it is only separated from their salt water 

 resort by a narrow bank. It is very averse to fly over land. It 

 has greatly decreased of late 3'ears on I^ough Swill}^ 



The ducks are very numerous, and all the common species 

 are found, but some kinds have decreased at Inch, it may be 

 owing to the increase of shooting. 



The Sheld-duck {Tadorna eor?iuta, Gmelin) breeds in large 

 numbers now, in the holes in the stone embankments and in 



