li4 Bird. Life and Sport on Ac hi II Island. 



Bird Life and Sport Oii Achill Island. 



By Frank Dawson-Smith. 



I \vill begin with a tlritc remark. Life is lil<e a kalei- 

 doscope with its ever changing scenes, growing dim, maybe, 

 in the rusli, of the years. Bii;t there remain some which are 

 ineftaceably engraved on the memory. In my personal retro- 

 spect I irecair many unforgotten scenes, adventiires, and places 

 near to Nature's heart. In this connection I place AchiJl 

 Island, off the coast of Wesft, Ireland, a district bearing the 

 marks of Nature in her most generous form. One memorable 

 winter* I iwas asked to spend: a few weeks with some sporting 

 friends there; an invitation which \ hailed with delight. The 

 first part of| the journey was decidedly unpleasant owing to 

 the appalling weather we experienced. This; caused the mail 

 boat to be; two hours late in starting from Holyhead. When 

 at last she left, the rough sea caused many of the passengers 

 to wish she had not started ! It snowed unceasingly and the 

 wind blew a 'hurricane until we neared Kingstown, when it 

 somewhat abated. As soon as the boat was more or less 

 stationary, we grabbed our penates, and got ashore, in a rush 

 to get aboard the Dublin train, in order to catch the West 

 of Ireland express_, at the capital. However, as luck would 

 have it owing to our train being late, we joined the express 

 before we got to Dublin, and 'made a speedy journey to 

 Athlone. Here we changed into the Achill Sound train and 

 also had a glimpse of the noble river Shannon. We had a 

 long tedious journey from this point, with little to interest in 

 the view owing! to the flatness of central Ireland. And the 

 train itself reminded one of the hare and the tortoise — the train 

 being the hare. It travelled fairly quickly, it is true, but 

 made up for< the speed byi lunconscionably long waits at the 

 Stations. Had the tortoise 'ig:one the route required as a slow 

 goods train, plodding^ steadily along, it would assuredly have 

 reached its destinationi tirst, having passed us on the way. 

 But all worries end some time. After passing Westport the 

 scenery became steadily, grander and wilder. Bold mountains 

 hove in sight, and the beautiful waters of Clew Bay gave 

 .splendid promise of joys to come. Late in the afternoon we 



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