190^. Notes, 325 



Late breeding of Corn Bunting. 



On 2ud September I found a nest of Corn Bunting {Einberiza miliaria) 

 containing four eggs, from which the bird rose. The eggs were warm, 

 and were only slightly incubated. 



Nevin H. Fosthr. 

 Hillsborough. 



A Late Cuckoo. 



Mrs. R. W. Longfield writes from Bandon, Co. Cork, to say that on 

 August 18 she heard the Cuckoo's note distinctly near Bandon. The cry 

 of cuc-koo was repeated several times. {Nature, August 28). 



Ruff in Co. Mayo. 



My friend, Major Ornisby, of Rinroe, has given me a fine specimen of 

 the Rufif, shot on the 23rd of August on his snipe bog, at Lisduoge 

 Lough, Co. Mayo, about three miles from Ballina. The Ruff is a very 

 rare visitor to this district, only two others have come under my notice 

 for 6ver forty years past— one a Reeve, shot by Mr. C. Little the first 

 week in September, 1884, on his grouse bog near Tullylin, Co. Sligo, and 

 the other shot by Mr. C. Gallagher, of Bunree, on a grouse bog between 

 Tullylin and Easky, Co. Sligo, on the 3rd of September, 1896. 



Robert Warren, 

 Moy View, Ballina. 



Wild Swans in Donegal and Antrim. 



I fear that Mr. W. E. Hart and his land steward are mistaken in think- 

 ing that the Swans seen passing Portrush and Kilderry were wild ones. 

 For many reasons it is very improbable that wild Swans, at the dates 

 mentioned (25th and 28th July), would be seen south of the Swedish 

 lakes and Baltic coast, which they only leave when driven by frost from 

 their feeding grounds, unless indeed, that they were birds that did not 

 migrate north this season. When seen flying unless near enough to 

 distinguish the markings on head and bill, it is impossible to identify 

 the species, but when seen on the water the position in which head and 

 neck are carried easily distinguish between the wild and tame birds. 



Further, in summer many adult tame Swans (probably non-breeding 

 birds) become restless, leave their inland quarters and resort to the coast 

 and estuaries fcr a few days at a time, and then return inland. 



I have repeatedly observed small parties of tame vSwans visit the Moy 

 estuary here in June and July, when they have been taken to be wild 

 birds They generally remain only for a day or two, and then disappear. 

 On the 2Sth of July I observed a splendid pair of adult birds resting on a 

 sandbank outside one of my fields here, but they disappeared next day, 

 probably returning up the Moy to Mount Falcon or to Lough Gill. 



Robert Warren. 

 Moy View, Ballina. 



