152 'rhc Irish Naiiwalist. Jiilji 



We then rowed across to the Connaught shore ; in one bay- 

 there were four Tufted Drakes on the water together — no 

 female ; but on an island not far away was a duck of the same 

 species partly eaten. 



It is very remarkable how these birds have increased of 

 late years in the breeding season. There were a good many 

 last winter, too, more than usual about here. 



vStock-Dove {Coluniba ccnas, I,inn.). 



This bird still continues to frequent this place, although 

 many of its favourite breeding haunts have been laid low by 

 the terrible storm of Februar}^, 1903. 



So far as I can ascertain, Stock-Doves appear, if undis- 

 turbed, to breed twice in the year, the first lot leaving the 

 nest towards the end of May, when the old birds seem to 

 take them away, as though to teach them to do for them- 

 selves. Towards the middle or end of June they vSeem to 

 return again and prepare for a second brood. 



Generall}^ the nest is in the hollow stump of an ivy-covered 

 tree, or the thick growth peculiar to the Lime tree. When in 

 the latter, and the trees in full leaf, it is sometimes very 

 difficult to get them to leave the nest, and quite out of the 

 question to reach it by climbing. 



In autumn and winter, however, they seem more shy and 

 wary than the Wood-Pigeon, although they are sometimes 

 shot " flighting" with the latter from their feeding grounds. 



Woodcock (Sco/o/>ax rus^icula, L,inn.). 



On July 18, 1903, my keeper showed me a Woodcock's nest 

 with three eggs which he had found on July 12. On July 26 

 she was still sitting, but a couple of days later left with two 

 young ones. A few days later I saw Woodcock quoted for 

 sale in the Dublin Corporation markets ! 



I.KSSPCR Bi.ACK-BACKKD Guix {Larits fiiscus, Linn.). 



I have been able to observe the breeding of this gull on 

 Lough Derg. On June 4, 1902, my son and a nephew 

 were "dapping" together from a boat, near the Clare 

 shore of Lough Derg, when the latter observed a 



