^50 The Irish Naturalist. September, 



plumage. On April 17th tlierc were two pairs. On April 27th four 

 pair. Each day on which the ■water was visited showed the Pintails 

 to be present.-^ 



Teal. — The same remark applies to this duck as those concerning the 

 Mallard. Evidentl}- a large influx took place in November, and 

 during the winter Teal were very plentiful. Ever}^ bog which was 

 investigated showed many pairs throughout April. 



Wigeon. — Wigeon were in very considerable numbers on the lakes this 

 winter, especially during the hard weather when they were in large 

 numbers on Lough Carra. In the evening and morning large flights 

 were heard passing over on their way to and from Carra and feeding 

 haunts. 



Tufted Duck. — A flock of five were resting on the water near the Pintails 

 on April 14th. Of the five two were males, and three females. 

 Although very numerous on Lough Carra in spring, I had not, until 

 this, seen Tufted Duck elsewhere about the country. 



Corn-Crake. — The Corn-crake was first heard this year on May ist. A 

 young bird was captured on May loth. This date seems very early 

 for young Corn-crakes, as the eggs are usually not laid until the end 

 of May. 



Ringed Plover. — Although this species was not found nesting at Lough 

 Deen, two pairs of them were seen there, and it is probable that they 

 were about to nest at the beginning of May. They appear to breed 

 regularly at this " bog-lake." 



Golden Plover. — Although usually very plentiful towards evening about 

 Lough Deen, very few were observed this spring. Throughout the 

 winter, however, flocks were seen moving from place to place. This 

 bird is usually very common in the district. 



Lapwing. — Very late in nesting this season. 



Woodcock. — Birds of this species which I weighed during the winter 

 to be in very fine condition. In the evenings during April Woodcock 

 might be seen performing their " love-flights " over the woods and 

 going out to the bogs to feed. 



Snipe. — The severe winter has had a bad eft'ect upon Snipe. I have found 

 their remains in various places. In places where many Snipe breed 

 other years, hardly one was heard or seen this season. I am told 

 that " there is hardly a Snipe left in the country." 



Common Sandpiper. — Was first observed on April 25th, when a pair was 

 noticed at Lough Deen. I had never seen them in that locality 

 before. 



Common Redshanks. — These birds did not appear in numbers until April 

 14th, though in other years they are abundant on lakes and floods 

 during winter and spring. On April 26th there w-as a very dark 

 specimen in company with other Redshanks at the northern end of 



* Unfortunately I had to leave this country at the end of April and 

 therefore was not able to ascertain whether the Pintails remained to 

 breed. 



