1896.] Warren. — The Terns of Kitldla Day. 147 



and on other two by the fields of Mr. Gardiner. It was 

 about 20 or 30 acres in extent and had a wooded island in the 

 centre, having a large quantity of reeds and bullrushes on one 

 end, extending out some distance into the water. A large 

 colony of Blackheaded Gulls were breeding amongst the 

 reeds, and on the tussocks of coarse grass along the margin, 

 while a small colony of Sandwich Terns were located on a 

 low flat mudbank, scarcely above the level of the water. 

 Some of the terns had scarcely any nests, but laid their eggs 

 in slight depressions of the soil thinly lined with a few dried 

 blades of grass, and three, I think (as well as I can remember), 

 was the average number of eggs in each nest. When 

 returning I took half a dozen eggs, and when attempting to 

 blow them found that the greater number were so near being 

 hatched that it was impossible to prepare them for my collec- 

 tion, thus showing that this species breeds much earlier than 

 the smaller species of terns, and in further proof of their 

 early breeding I have seen young birds accompanying their 

 parents about the river and estuary as early as the 24th of June. 



The following winter and spring being unusually wet, the 

 level of the lake was raised so high, as to cover the mudbank 

 upon which the terns had their nests, and as the bank con- 

 tinued under water during the summer of 1858, the terns 

 deserted the lake altogether, and removed to the little moor- 

 land lough of Rathrouyeen, situated midway between Ballina 

 and Killala, and within 300 yards of, and in sight of the high 

 road between these towns. 



This lough is considerably larger than Cloona, and is nearly 

 surrounded by bog, with very swampy shores, except on the 

 east side, and has a considerable quantity of reeds growing on 

 the margin, in some places extending to a small island in the 

 middle of the lake. This island is nearly circular in form, 

 and is about 25 or 30 yards in diameter, and has some tall 

 bushes growing round the outer edge, while the middle of the 

 island is bare, except where some long grass grows. 



A very large colony of Blackheaded Gulls have nests all 

 over this island, and amongst the reeds, and on the tussocks 

 along the boggy margin, while a smaller colony of Sandwich 

 Terns breed together on a bare part of the island, as well as 

 amongst the Gulls' nests. This lake and the adjoining land were 

 the property of the late Sir Charles Knox-Gore, who, with the 



A 2 



