i9oS. Pattkn. — Rambles on A ch ill Island. 1 9 1 



the face of precipitous cliffs with a speed which, judging from 

 their wing-movements in other localities, is truly surprising. 

 As I turned my back on the beautiful cliff-land scenery, a 

 flock of Curlews flew upwards from the rocks. The birds 

 winged their way across the cliff-tops, alighting in the fields 

 adjoining the sea, presumably to feed on earth-worms,' a habit 

 w^hich I have noticed in other localities. 



In accordance with what I have already noted, Air. Williams 

 informed me that on Achill Island, Curlews may be seen 

 plucking blackberries- from the bushes. 



Returning by the same route, just as the Ashleam road was 

 reached, six Choughs flew overhead. They evidently formed 

 a family party ; the adult birds, taking the lead, were cawing 

 loudh^ ; the brood, with more sportive twisting flight, followed 

 closeh\ Almost immediately afterwards a pair of Hooded 

 Crows appeared, their heavy form and lumbering flight offer- 

 ing a pretty contrast to the graceful and buoyant movements 

 of the Choughs. 



On the road from Breanaskill, and about a mile from the 

 Sound, Mr. Williams drew my attention to a large flock of 

 Starlings returning to roost. It would appear that this species 

 is a comparativel}- recent addition to the avifauna of the 

 island ; now, five hundred may be seen at one time, and, as a 

 rule, even during the day, the flock keeps together, not divi- 

 ding into small companies. Indeed, it is rare to find Starlings 

 scattered in small numbers over the island, I noticed an 

 immature male Sparrow-Hawk flying leisurely towards a 

 cottage, the spot being only a stone's throw from the breed- 

 ing haunts in the fir-trees at Glandarary. Two immature 

 birds had been killed during the spring; Mr. Williams shewed 

 me the skin of one — an exceptionally heavy female — which 

 when procured proved to be in a very fat condition. 



On returning at 7 o'clock to the Sound, I found that 

 Swallows were abundant, and in the fading twilight I 

 observed four Wheatears on the wall-tops, a fine big Hare on a 

 turl-bog, and a half-grown black Rabbit running about on a 

 cultivated grass field. 



1 Patten, Irish Naturalist, 1902, p. 127. 



2 Walters, Birds of Ireland^ p. 144 ; Patten, Aquatic Birds^ p. 363. 



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