158 Guide to Belfast. 



and a pair has bred on the Gobbins cliffs from the time of 

 Thompson to the present day. The Hobby was unknown 

 as an Ulster bird until one was shot at Shane's Castle, An- 

 trim, I July, 1900 (E. Williams). The *Merlin, though not 

 numerous, is resident in both counties, and even ventures so 

 close to Belfast as the Bog Meadows, where specimens 

 have been shot. The Osprey is very rare, having only been 

 taken in 1S51, 1877, and 1891 ; but in the autumn of 1901 

 one frequented the eastern shore of Lough Neagh for several 

 weeks, where it was carefully protected. 



Steganopodes. — The *Cormorant is well known and 

 is increasing in Belfast Lough, while on Lough Neagh, in 

 June 1900, a flock of 26 and another of 18 were seen within 

 100 yards of each other. It has several times been reported 

 as breeding on Lough Neagh, but we have not obtained 

 actual proof yet. It used to breed on Rathlin, where its 

 place is now taken by the *Shag, which breeds in some 

 numbers. The Gannet may frequently be seen fishing off 

 our coasts in the summer and autumn months. Its only 

 Irish breeding-stations are in Kerry and Cork (Ussher). 



Herodiones. — Frequently seen inland (particularly 

 around Lough Neagh), the *Heron is a common resident 

 on the shores of our loughs, where there are several large 

 heronries ; but it is becoming comparatively scarce on 

 Belfast Lough, changes in the natural conditions driving 

 the birds to Strangford and Larne Loughs, where they are 

 increasing. The Night-Heron has only occurred twice, each 

 time in the " People's Park," near Belfast, one in September 

 1866 and one in October 1893, the latter shot by S. M. 

 Stears : both specimens were immature. We can only 

 include the Little Bittern on the authority of Thompson, 

 who mentions a supposed occurrence in the Bog Meadows, 

 near Belfast, previous to 1830. Once breeding with us, the 

 Common Bittern can now only be regarded as a very 

 irregular winter visitor; but Walter Smyth shot one 

 at Groomsport, Co. Down, on 9th August, 1900. The 

 American Bittern has only occurred once in the district, 

 near Ballynahinch, Co. Down, in November 1883. The 

 Glossy Ibis is a very rare visitor; Templeton records one 

 as shot in the Bog Meadows, mentioned above, in Sep- 



