Notes 071 the Birds of Lough S witty. 175 



T. casarca, Linn. — Ruddy Sheldrake. — Six of these birds appeared at 

 Inch in the middle of August in the present year. Two were shot by 

 local sportsmen, and have been preserved. I have never heard of their 

 being previously observed in Lough Swilly. 



Anas boscas, Linn. — Wii,d Duck. — Breed numerously near Inch, and 

 large numbers of visitors arrive each autumn. 



A. strepera, Linn. — Gadwai,!,. — Very rare. I have only known of three 

 being shot during the last three years. One of these I secured in 

 January of the present year, and I have had it preserved. 



Spatula clypeata, Linn. — ShoveIvI^ER. — One or two pairs breed at or 

 near Inch each season. The migratory birds arrive in October. They 

 soon become ver}- shy, and rarely fall to the gun of the flight-shooter. 

 No bird is more dif&cult to retrieve than a wounded Shoveller. 



Dafila acuta, Linn. — PinTaii,. — Plentiful at Inch in February and the 

 beginning of March. A few are present at Inch all winter ; but during 

 the latter half of February their numbers increase greatly. Apparently 

 these ducks winter further south than Donegal, and rest on our waters 

 for a short time before starting on their journey north. 



Querquedula crecca, Linn. — Teai,. — A considerable number breed near 

 Inch, and about the end of September the winter visitors arrive. 



Mareca penelope, Linn. — Wigeon. — Begin to arrive towards the end of 

 September, and are the most numerous of our ducks. Flocks of several 

 thousands may frequently be seen on the sea between Inch and Fahan. 

 Unless in very severe weather, they stay on the sea during the day, and 

 fly to the inland water at dusk, flying out to sea at dawn. I have seen 

 Wigeon at Inch in the middle of May, but I have never heard of their 

 breeding with us. 



Puligula ferina, Linn. — Pochard. — Plentiful at Inch all the winter, but 

 most plentiful in the months of December and January. I have noticed 

 that Pochards very frequently congregate in small flocks, all of one 

 sex. 



r. cristata, Leach. — Tufted; Duck. — Not very plentiful; each winter, 

 however, I have shot a few. 



P. marila, Linn . — Scaup. — Next to the Wigeon the most plentiful of the 

 winter visitors to Inch. A few Scaup remain on the inland water all 

 summer, but I believe they are wounded birds which have not recovered 

 their power of flight sufficiently to join their companions in the 

 northern migration. I have never heard of their breeding. 



Clangula glaucion, Linn. — Goi^den Eye. — Arrive at Inch in great 

 numbers towards the end of October, and continue plentiful till 

 March. I have seen a few in July, but these were probably wounded 

 birds, unable for the northern migration. The Golden Eye differs from 

 almost all the other ducks in having an inclination to rest on the inland 

 water at Inch during the day, if not disturbed, and fly to the sea to- 

 wards the evening. They are not as gregarious as the Pochard, 

 Scaup, or Wigeon, preferring to fly in small flocks of from ten to 

 twenty. 



Karelda glacialis, Linn. — Long-taii,ed Duck. — Rather rare. One or 

 two turn up in each Vvdnter's shooting, generally young birds. 



CEdemia nigra, Linn. — Common Scoter. — May be noticed occasionally 

 near the mouth of Lough Swilly, but I have never seen a specimen at 

 Inch. 



Mergfus merganser, Linn. — Goosander. Very rare. A fine specimen 

 was shot by one of my sons a few years ago, but it was too much injured 

 to preserve. 



Mergus serrator, Linn.— Red-breasted Merganser. Very plentiful 

 during the winter months. I have seen them at Inch during the 

 summer, but I am not aware of their breeding in the locality. 



Mergus albellus, Linn. — Smew. — Very rare. I shot one in January 

 1S91, but failed to secure it. About the same time another was shot 

 by a gentleman residing near Inch, and he had it preserved. 



Fulica atra, Linn.— CooT. — A considerable number of Coots breed at 



