1889] Interest in Achill. 357 



from you, and to give you any little help that may be in my power. I 

 am very lame, and can only go about on crutches or in a bath- chair ; 

 so I fear I can hardly hope to see Achill again. But this is much better 

 than last year. 



"Polish Swan" I do not understand, and I don't know who does. 



I cannot distinguish it from immature Tame Swan I hope you 



got back your Black Tern safely. Can you give me the date when you 

 shot it ; also the date when you shot the Iceland Gull ? Have you found 

 any remarkable bird this winter ? Has the Crossbill visited you ; and 

 do you find the Snow Bunting every winter ? Of course, I suppose you 

 had no Wild Swans this mild winter ? 



I have a question to ask about the Irish Hare. With you does it 

 turn ^partially white when there is no snow in winter ? Again, does 

 not the white begin on the ears and legs ? I see many hares now have 

 their ears only white, or partly white. Does this agree with your 

 experience ? Also, a grey patch shows on the rump just above the tail 

 (about six inches wide) at the commencement of the change. Is this so 

 always ? Does the Stoat (or " Weasel," as it is called in Ireland) often 

 change to white in winter with you ? And does it change sooner or 

 more often than the Hare ? 



Eagles. Does the White-tailed or Sea Eagle breed still in the Cliffs 

 of Achill ? Rather, I should ask, do both Golden and Sea Eagle breed 

 in your cliffs ? I hope they are not exterminated ? I am afraid you 

 will think all these queries very troublesome, and that I am imposing 

 too much on your good nature. I forgot to say that when I was in 

 Achill I did gather a few weakly plants of the Erica on the way to 

 Keem Cliffs, on low ground behind them. 



(February jtk, 1889.} I am sending you a copy of my " List of Irish 

 Birds and Guide to Museum." I wish to improve and enlarge the 

 new edition of " Bird List," and shall be glad to avail myself of your 

 observations on 



Iceland Gull, 

 Black Tern, 

 Polish Swan, 

 if you will kindly send me the dates at once. 



Also, about the Sea Eagle. You do not speak quite clearly as to 

 whether it still breeds in or about Achill. Please say do you think it 

 does breed or not ; and has it ever nested, to your knowledge, in Island 

 of Achill or anywhere on the adjoining mainland ? Polish Swan I am 

 still doubtful about : whether it is not some variety or age of the Tame 

 Swan. If you get an adult in winter how are you to distinguish it, or a 

 half-grown bird ? Have you ever compared them ? . . . . 



Mediterranean Heath. Do I understand that you have found 

 another locality, or merely an extension of your former one ? 



Also, please say how high are the tallest plants of the wet ground ? 

 Do they reach to your waist, say three feet ? Please to remember, 

 neither short nor tall growth has anything to do with Mackay's Heath, 



