i9oS. Patten. — Rambles on Achill Island. 203 



Wednesday, September 2^th. — Mr. Sheridan kindly drove me 

 back to the Sound, where the afternoon was spent witnessing 

 the "Sports" which included horse races on the strand, 

 boat-races, and swimming races. 



Summary. 



The reader who is cognizant with the bird-life of Achillwill 

 at once see how comparatively few in number are the species 

 which I have observed. That man}^ common species were 

 overlooked I have not the slightest doubt. Nor have I any 

 reason to disbelieve in the existence of the Eagle, Wild Goat, 

 and many other interesting creatures on this beautiful isle ; 

 but the}^ did not come under my own observation. That 

 several rare birds have been observed and procured on the 

 island is also known to many of us, and recently published 

 records^ are accessible to those who may wish to look them 

 up. In one's daily journal, notes of all sorts are jotted down, 

 so that part of the information given may be already knowm 

 to the reader ; that which contributes to the furthering of our 

 stock of knowledge will, I trust, prove acceptable. The 

 whole was gleaned during a holiday ramble on an island 

 visited for the first time by the writer, who feels sure that 

 the lover of nature who visits it will be more than amply 

 repaid. 



^ Mr. Sheridan has coutributed several notes on the occurrences and 

 captures of rare birds in Achill Island to the pages of the Irish Naturalist^ 

 Fields and other Journals : Mr. Ussher and Mr. Warren, in " The Birds of 

 Ireland " published in 1900, and the writer in " The Aquatic Birds of 

 Great Britain and Ireland," which appeared six years later, have 

 endeavoured to incorporate all available records of rare Achill birds in 

 these books. 



The University, Sheffield. 



