248 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



The other specimens in the case I got some years 

 afterwards when at Waterville with John SulHvan 

 in the winter of 1902-3. We found them on some 

 heather-clad mountains near the seashore, about 

 four or five miles out of Waterville on the road to 

 Parknasilla. The birds would often come down into 

 the low grass lands at the base of the mountains, 

 but never could I get a decent shot under these con- 

 ditions, for they were always too wary ; I found it 

 necessary, in fact, to get up to the altitude they 

 usually maintain on the mountain side, and then by 

 hiding amongst boulders and rocky places get some 

 flying shots as they passed or flew over my head. 

 I think I spent two days like this with John, and 

 got all I wanted. 



The Chough is one of the most graceful birds on 

 the wing, and its evolutions in the air are most 

 interesting to watch. It rises in sweeping sorts of 

 curves in the air, " alternately rising with a scream 

 and then suddenly dropping with almost closed 

 wings." The call-note is something like the Jack- 

 daw's, as if it was split ; only much more musical. 

 Howard Saunders calls it a clear metallic " kling." 

 This species nests principally in the sea cliffs of 

 Cornwall and Devon, Wales, the Isle of Man, south 

 and south-west and north of Ireland. 



The nest " is frequently placed in some cavity in 

 the roof of a cave, but sometimes in vertical fissures, 

 holes in ruins, grassy banks, or disused lime-kilns. 

 The eggs — three to five in number, are greyish-white, 

 with occasionally a yellow or greenish tinge, spotted 



