I9Q2. Notes. 151 



Magpies fishing for Eggs. 



While walking across the fields here I noticed a couple of Magpies at 

 a pond which my ducks frequent. I walked towards the pond, and on 

 reaching it saw an egg on the bank ; the Magpies had broken a hole in 

 it and commenced to suck it, but what astonished me was to find that 

 the egg was quite wet, and had evidentlj- been taken out of the water, 

 which was quite shallow. Looking into the water I saw another egg, 

 and from other appearances I judged that the Magpies had been trying 

 to get it out also. I always looked upon the Magpie as a very clever bird, 

 with a most astonishing faculty for keeping out of range of an ordinary 

 gun, but I never imagined that it would venture into water in the 

 manner described above. 



W. F. Johnson. 

 - Poyntzp^ss. 



Summer Migrants. 



On the night of 5th inst. the wind shifted for the first time this 

 Spring to east, and on the next morning I noticed a large number of 

 migratory' birds in this neighbourhood, including Sand-martins, Chiff- 

 chaff, Willow wren, and on Monday following the Swallows were 

 numerous. The Willow Wren and Chiff-chaff have been since heard 

 repeatedly. The Wheat-ear was seen by me on 24th March, and yester- 

 day I heard a Sedge-warbler in full song on the Nenagh river. The 

 latter is an early record for this locality. 



MiCHAElv Gi^EESON. 

 Nenagh. 



Woodcock breeding in Co. Donegal. 



I have j ust had pointed out to me by one of my labourers a Woodcock's 

 nest, the bird rising from her four eggs when I was within a couple of 

 paces of them. Not many spots could readily be found more suitable to 

 this and other birds of similar habits, and I have hopes that they will 

 continue to make it their breeding place. 



W. E. Hart. 

 Kilderry, Co. Donegal. 



Iceland Gull at Londonderry 



On 7th April I saw an Iceland Gull [Lants levcoptenis) at the Quay, 

 Londonderry. It was flying about with the usual crowd of Herring 

 Gulls that frequent the river. It seemed to be an immature bird. 



D. C. Campb^i,!,. 

 lYondonderry. 



