The Birds of the Midland Lakes and Bogs. 



271 



Westmeath, and Castle Lough on Lough Derg, Tipperary. It 

 is reported as a winter visitant from Lough Arrow (Col. 

 ffolliott), and Queen's Co. (Mr. Young). 



The Goosander is stated by Mr. Digby to have been seen 

 by him on one or two occasions in King's Co., and Mrs. 

 Battersby knows of one shot in Westmeath. Mr. Parker men- 

 tioned another shot on Lough Derg. 



The Rkd-breasted Merganser is one of the commonest 

 ducks on the larger lakes, and is a most characteristic bird in 

 the breeding-season, when I have met with it on Lough Erne, 

 Lough Arrow, Lough Key, ^^Lough Allen, ^^Lough Sheelin, 

 Lough Gowna, Lough Ree, ^'Lough Owel, and Lough Derg 

 and in almost all parts of those lakes. Where numerous 

 wooded islands occur, as on Lough Erne and Lough Key, each 

 seems to be tenanted by one or more pair of Mergansers 

 (known as Shell Ducks), but even in June, their breeding 

 time, one sees occasional assemblages of adult birds. Thus, 

 on an island in Lough Derg, I saw thirteen Mergansers, nine 

 in one flock and two pairs, on 31st Ma)^ 1892. From an 

 island in Lough Ow^el, nine took flight, which were on the 

 water inshore, then two more, and afterwards we found 

 two females sitting on fresh eggs among the dense flags 

 that covered the bank of the island. On 3rd June, 1893, I 

 came upon a Merganser sitting on ten fresh eggs among the 

 bed of meadowsweet that encircles an island in Lough Allen, 

 between the ston}^ shore and the trees that occupied the 

 centre, a distinct path or run leading from the nest to the 

 water. A nest also containing ten fresh eggs was found on 

 an island in Lough Sheelin, on the nth June, 1892. It was a 

 depression among rough gravel and angular bits of limestone 

 with scarcel}^ an}^ nesting-material. Another nest had been 

 made far in among tangle and bushes under masses of coarse 

 ivy, forming a jungle. In May, pairs may be seen not having 

 laid yet. The Merganser is a very shy bird, usually taking 

 flight and not diving when a boat is still a long way off. It is 

 most restless, continually in motion either on the water or on 

 the wing. I believe it dives for food only, not to escape from 

 an intruder. On the wing it utters a quack not unlike that of 

 a Wild Duck. Mr. Parker states that within his memory 

 Mergansers have greatly increased on Lough Derg, but that 

 they are rare there in winter. In one instance I saw a pair of 



