I9T0. 'Notes. 255 



Abundance of Great Northern Divers. 



On Tuesday, October 18, my brother, Major Peutlaud, and I were 

 playing golf at Baltray, Co. Louth, with two friends; the tenth tee is 

 close to the sea about a mile north of the Boyne and commands a fine 

 view of the sandy shore. The tide was full ; the seu calm, and great 

 quantities of fry were about. When we climbed the hill to the tee, my 

 brother called my attention to a number of divers quite close to us and 

 we saw a very unusual sight. There were about twenty-six divers in 

 sight ; seventeen of them being within four hundred yards of 

 us. All of them were either Great Northern or Red-throated 

 Divers. All that were near enough for me to make certain of, were 

 Great Northern Divers, and I am inclined to think they were all of 

 that species, but I cannot be certain. However, they were all un- 

 doubtedly Divers (Colymbidae). Every winter a couple of Great North- 

 ern Divers haunt the mouth of the Boyne and I have seen three or four 

 about Clogher Head in the spring, but nevermore until this day. Of 

 course, they were following the fry. 



G. H. PknTi^and. 



Black Hall, Drogheda. 



Ruflfs in Co. Derry, 



On 13th August, IVtr. VV. Byron shot a pair of Ruffs {Machetes pugnax) 

 on the shore of Bann not far from the mouth They were immature 

 birds male and female, the male an extra large specimen. There was 

 evidently a flock on passage, as Mr. Byron saw others. This is the 

 earliest date recorded for this species. The above pair is mounted 

 and in our city museum. 



D. C. Campbeu.. 



Londonderry. 



Temminck's Stint. 



On 29th September, I visited Chute Hall, Tralee, in company with 

 the proprietor. Captain Chute, who has kindly consented to lend to the 

 National Museum, Dublin, the only recorded Irish specimen of Tem- 

 minck's Stint. It was obtained by his grandfather, Mr. Richard Chute 

 near Tralee, in February, 1848 (Thompson, vol. ii., p. 302). I had the 

 pleasure of selecting the specimen and sending it to Dr. ScharfF; and it 

 seems to be in very fair preservation considering its age, as the rest of 

 the collection at Chute Hall appears to be. Since this specimen was 

 obtained, more than 60 years ago, there has not, to my knowledge, been 

 any other example of this species obtained in Ireland. It is not to be 

 confounded with the Little Stint, which is also represented by a specimen 

 at Chute Hall. 



R. J. USSHER. 



Cappagh, Co. Waterford. 



