1902 Pattkn. — List of Birds west of Dingle, Co. Ketry. 133 



straight to meet liim, and b)' their loud threats endeavoured to drive 

 him away. But the ravenous Falcon was not to be thwarted, and 

 whether sorely pressed with hunger or in order to procure food for 

 his offspring, he turned on one of the Lapwings. The terrorised 

 mate seeing the pursuit flew oif. The hawk, having singled out his 

 prey, dashed after it, swooping and turning so sharply that capture 

 seemed inevitable. But after repeated attempts the hawk seemed 

 unable to strike the Lapwing, and how long the pursuit would have 

 lasted it is hard to sa}', had not a large female Peregrine suddenly 

 swooped down, and with one sharp turn put an end to the chase by 

 seizing the unfortunate bird and carrj-ing it off. The male Falcon 

 deprived of his quarry slowly ascended to a great height, performing 

 a series of beautiful circling aerial movements. I presume the hav/ks 

 were feeding young, so daring and persevering were they about the 

 onslaught. (See Peregrine, p. 130.) 



Strepsilas Interpres, Linn. Turnstone. — Plentifully distributed 

 about the rocks and mud-flats. 



Hsematopus ostralegus, Linn. Oyster-catcher. — Common in 

 the same localities as the last species, with which it often kept 

 company. 



Callinago caelestis, Fren. Common SNiPE.—Observed several in 

 the winter about the marshes at Smerwick and Ventrj'. Sportsmen 

 tell me this bird is numerous in autumn and winter. 



Tringa alpina, Linn. DunTvIN. — Observed several flocks — none very 

 large — on the mud-flats. More numerous in winter. I found the 

 remains of several on the mountains, probably killed by Merlins. 



Totanus calidris, Linn. Common Redshank.— Observed several 

 both on the rocks and sand-flats. 



Totanus cancscens, Gmel, Greenshank. — Observed two in 

 August, almost every day, flying from rock to rock at the point of 

 the peninsula (Dunmore). I probably overlooked it in winter. 



Numenlus arquata, Linn. Curi^EW.— Plentiful over the peninsula. 

 On the 29th August T shot three Curlew from a flock in a ploughed 

 field. Their gullets, mouths, and beaks were packed with wriggling 

 earth-worms. These birds, which were immature, proved very 

 edible. 



N« phaeopus, Linn. Whimbret,.— Only observed one on the 30th 

 August. It was resting on a rock near Dunmoie Head. I have 

 shot the Whimbrel east of Dingle at Calinafercy Bay. 



GAVI^. 



Sterna fiuviatilis, Naum. Common Tern.— In August I frequently 

 observed small flocks fishing round the point of the peninsula. 



Larus ridibundus, Linn. Bi,ack-headed Gui.i<.— Observed several 



both in winter and summer. On the 29th December I noted an 



adult bird, with a black head— 2.<?., in summer plumage. There is a 



small breeding colony on a low island of the Blasket group.— 



(Usshcr)x 



A 3 



