Zoology. 165 



winter with us ; while the Black-tailed is very rare. Breeding 

 in small numbers on our bogs and mountains, the ^Common 

 Curlew is well known in our loughs in winter, large flocks 

 being frequently seen. The Whimbrel is fairly common in 

 May, and on its return journey in autumn is also met with. 

 It has even occurred so late as October in more than one 

 instance. 



Gaviae. — The Black I'ern is a very rare straggler. 

 We only know of six occurrences, the last being near Uown- 

 patrick, 23 October, 1863. The Sandwich Tern is also rare 

 here, the most recent note being 12 September, 1893, 

 at Newcastle, Co. Down. In Thompson's time the Roseate 

 Tern bred in some numbers on the Copeland Islands, off 

 Donaghadee. The Guide to Be/fast, etc. (1874) states they 

 bred there still but were gradually diminishing; they have 

 long ceased to breed there, and are now quite unknown, 

 although Ussher states {Birds of Ireland, p. 318) that three 

 were seen in Belfast Lough in August 1890, but this is the 

 only recent occurrence known. The *Common Tern 

 and *Arctic Tern are both very numerous in summer,' 

 breeding freely round our coast in large numbers, while the 

 Common breeds also on Lough Neagh. The *Little Tern 

 breeds in small numbers in Strangford Lough, and is 

 frequently sent up from there. Thompson had the 

 pleasure of adding Sabine's Gull to the British fauna, by 

 describing a specimen shot in Belfast Lough in September 

 1822 ; another was obtained in the same place in September 

 1834; the third (and last) in October 1867, off Bangor, Co. 

 Down (Blake Knox). Thompson also added Bonaparte's 

 Gull to the British fauna, the only Irish specimen being 

 shot on the River Lagan, ''between Ormeau Bridge and the 

 Botanic Gardens," i P'ebruary, 1848. It is still in the Belfast 

 Museum. The Little Gull is extremely rare; only four 

 occurrences are known, the last in 1849 (Thompson). The 

 * Black-headed Gull is the most numerous gull we have. It 

 breeds in numbers on Lough Neagh and other lakes. 

 With us the Common Gull belies its name ; though found 

 in small numbers round our coast, it is anything but com- 

 mon, and does not breed in the district ; however, it has 

 been seen in June on Lough Neagh. The *Herring-Gull is 



