62 J. D. Marsuwatu on the Statistics and 
distinctly above me, that I looked up, and there the snipe was hovering, sweeping 
down repeatedly towards the marsh, and again wheeling aloft, all the time uttering its 
peculiar bleating ery. Its young, I conjectured, were at the time in the marsh ; and 
its anxiety was severely tried, while my companion and I remained in the vicinity. 
Meapvow or Corn Crake. ( Crex pratensis.) The rail is plenty in the corn fields in 
all parts of the island, and forms her nest in similar situations to those on the op- 
posite coast of Antrim. 
Common GaLuinuLe. (Gallinula chloropus.) This bird inhabits the marsh 
which I have before alluded to in the southern extremity of the island, and makes its 
nest among the reeds and water-lilies covering its surface. 
Crestep or Green Lapwine. (Vanellus cristatus.) 1 found this plover on 
some of the high grounds on the island ; but at this season, they are by no means so 
numerous as in winter. 
Riycep Prover. (Charadrius hiaticula.) This handsome little plover is not 
unfrequently seen in summer, on the high, retired, and stony parts of Rathlin, where 
it forms its nest. I found it also on the gravelly beach of Church bay, where, near 
high-water mark, its eggs have been frequently found. In the month of July they 
were running about, accompanied by their young, for whom they evinced the greatest 
attachment. 
Bean or Witp Goose. (Anser ferus.) Seen in small flocks in winter. 
Brent Goose. (Anser brenta.) Occasionally met with in Church bay. 
Wuistiine Swan. (Cygnus ferus.) Seen sometimes in hard winters. 
Common Witp Duck. (Anas boschas.) Occasionally shot in winter. 
Common Tra. (Querquedula crecca.) In small flocks on the marshes and ponds 
in winter. 
Common Wicron. (Mareca penelope.) Rarely seen in winter. ; 
Norruern Diver. (Colymbus glacialis.) Frequents the bays and shores of 
Raghery in winter and spring, and has been seen both im adult and immature 
plumage. 
Footish Guittemor. (Uria troile.) These birds were congregated in very con- 
siderable numbers on the north-western extremity of the island, where the high and 
precipitous rocks afford them facilities for incubation. They were not, however, so 
plentiful as either the razor-bill auks or puffins, but they frequented the same rocks 
indiscriminately. This guillemot lays one large egg on the bare rock, to which it is 
secured as it were by its peculiarly conical shape, being very large at one end, and 
diminishing rapidly towards the other. It is thus prevented rolling off the rock ; but 
it was in former times supposed to be retained on the rock by some glutinous sub- 
stance applied to one side by the bird. The young guillemots I had frequent oppor- 
tunities of examining ; they were, when excluded from the shell, covered with a dark 
grey down, of a whitish colour underneath. 
