Birds. Life and Sport on Ac hill Island. 115 



reached Achill Sound— our terminus, as well as that of the 

 line. \\'c soon had our travelling impedimenta packed on to 

 an Irish jaunting car, and started on the long dri\e to our 

 hnal destination, Dugort, about ten miles away. 



The narrow channel between Achill Sound and the 

 mainland is now bridged. We passed across it and reached 

 Dugort, the scttlem.ent, a quaint little place sheltering be- 

 neath SJicvemore Mountain, about a couple of hours later. 

 The following day; my guide was introducing' to me a typical 

 West Irishman tiamed Michael Molloy. This " bhoy " proved 

 a veritable walking encyclopaedia of knowledge regarding 

 birds inhabiting the island. Added to thisi he knew every 

 inch of Achill, possessed three useful diogs for shooting pur- 

 poses, and last, but by nc^ means least, he had eyes like a 

 hawk. I ^ 



< )ur lirst day's excursion was to Keel Lough, a large 

 sheet of water about two and a half miles distant. We had 

 a look at Dookinelly^ a ihamlet consisting of a few one storied 

 thatched cottages, and a place where porter could be obtained. 

 "Just the stuff, sor, to start a day wid, bedad I " remarked 

 Michael; thus enlightening me as to the customs of the 

 country. I responded to the delicate suggestion, in the way 

 he evidently approved, and when he fliad finished his study of 

 my 'methods, we proceeded on our adventures, and went down 

 to the side of the Lough. Here my attention became rivetted 

 on the multitude of birds. Flocks of Lapwings were llying 

 around, alternately black and white as they turned in the air. 

 Close at hand were; a number of noisy little Redshanks, run- 

 ning about on the sandy shore,, their slender, red legs being 

 easily distinguishable among the rest. Intermingled with them 

 were other Waders, Dunlins, Purple Sandpipers, and those 

 quaint little fellow — the Turnstones, all busily, occupied in a 

 common task — searching for food. Judging by their sudden 

 rushes and c^uick dabs with their bills tJiey found a plentiful 

 supply. The noisy but shy Curlew was much in evidence 

 and numbers of these birds were flying around, well out of 



