48 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



eighty-six were also Wigeon; and in 1863-64, six 

 hundred and forty-two wild fowl, the number of 

 Wigeon being four hundred and eight. The number 

 of Duck killed in these three years being fifty-nine, 

 fifty-five., and forty-six respectively ; and Teal forty- 

 one, fifty-five, and seventy ; the remainder being 

 Pochard, Scaup, and Divers. Wild Duck always 

 bear a small proportion." 



The migrants when they arrive make for inland 

 waters, marshes and bogs, and they and the home- 

 bred birds require hard frost to bring them to the 

 coast in any number. Such weather may not occur 

 in Ireland once in ten years. 



Although, as before stated, I never actually found 

 a Wigeon's nest, or came across a young brood, I 

 have seen hen Wigeon, in no way wounded, hover- 

 ing about the rushes during summer in quiet corners 

 of inland waters. 



Mr. R. Lloyd Patterson, the author of an in- 

 teresting work on the " Birds and Fishes of Belfast 

 Lough," informs me, on the authority of the Rev. 

 G. Robinson, that the Wigeon is said to nest at 

 Caledon, co. Tyrone, and at Lough Corrib. Mr. 

 Patterson further says he has information from 

 another friend (Mr. Atkinson) that the Wigeon 

 nests at Capt. Molyneux's place, Castle Dillon, co. 

 Armagh, and this latter gentleman confirms what 

 Mr. G. Robinson states as to its breeding at 

 Caledon. I have undoubted evidence from several 

 observant shooters, that Wigeon nest yearly at 

 Portmore Lough, sometimes called Lough Beg, 

 near the great Lough Neagh in the north. 

 . Confirmatory of Wigeon nesting at Caledon, the 



