24 IJiC Irish Nat2iralist. February 



Twice I have found the Corncrake in winter, once in 

 December, and once on 3rd January. The Water-rail {Ralhis 

 aquatiais, Linn.) is not common, it used to breed in the 

 marshes round Inch. The Waterhen i^Gallimda chloixpiis, 

 lyinn.)? and Coot (/>^//V^^/?'^, Linn.), are very abundant. An 

 enormous number of Coots nest amongst the sedges. I have 

 known over fifty nests to be found b}^ boys in one stretch of 

 under half a mile. 1 have one record of the Crane {Grus 

 comvmnis, Bechstein). A fine specimen was shot b}^ Mr. John 

 M'Connell on Burt slob on 24th June, 1896 {hish Nahi7'alist^ 

 vol. V.J p. 214.) 



The birds that attract most of our attention on the sloblands 

 are the waders. The}- are in evidence at all seasons, and the 

 sweet but plaintive calls of Plover and Sandpiper in the 

 spring-time have a wonderful fascination. The Ringed Plover 

 {y^gialitis hiaticula, Linn.), breeds on the shores, and in 

 numbers on the Farland sandbank. 



The Golden Plover {Charadrius pluvialis, Linn.), is common 

 in winter. The Gre}' Plover iSquatarola helvetica, Linn.), is 

 a winter visitor in small numbers. The Lapwing ( Vanellus 

 vulgaris, Bechstein), swarms on the sloblands in the breeding 

 season. The Turnstone {Strepsilas interpres, Linn.), is a rare 

 winter visitor. 



The Oyster-catcher {^Hc^matopiis ostralegus, Linn.), is 

 common on the Swilly, and a large flock is always to be seen 

 on the shore by the golf course. The Grey Phalarope (Phala- 

 ropiis fidicarius , Linn.), w^as shot at Inch during the visit of 

 this species in October, 1891, and Mr. John M'Connell shot 

 a specimen on 26th October, 1894. I have never seen one 

 since. 



The Woodcock {Scolopax riistiaila, Linn.), is a common 

 winter visitor, and a few pairs breed in the Rathmullan 

 woods. 



The Common Snipe {Gallhiago coclesiis^ Frenzel), breeds 

 in small numbers. The " bleating" may be heard in spring 

 to great advantage from the high banks at Inch. The Jack 

 Snipe {G. galli7iula, Linn.), is fairly common in winter. 



The Dunlin {Tringa alpina, Linn.), is, to me, one of the 

 most interesting breeding species. At Inch it nests all over the 

 bare slob-lands. The nest is usually nearer the water than 

 the nests of the Lapwing and Redshank, and made in a 



