io 4 ''$&' BOWLER IN IRELAND. 



Pochard, and Tufted Duck often. These latter fly 

 from lakes near the sea to the tide, and there pass 

 the night feeding. They are then sometimes shot 

 as they cross overland. On the inland lakes I have 

 seldom known them thus obtained, as the Diving 

 Ducks do not quit fresh waters in search of bogs 

 and marshes at night as do Duck, Wigeon, and 

 Teal. The keeper of the " Beeves Light," near 

 Askeaton, on the Shannon, told me that he had 

 known " Blue-bills " (a local name for Scaup) on 



THE SCAUP. 



several occasions to be killed against the lantern at 

 night. 



Scaup do not appear to be as conscious of noise 

 as others of their kind. What confirms me in this 

 opinion is a fact related by lighthouse keepers, who 

 state that these birds often swim in and out of the 

 pillars supporting such structures whilst the men in 

 charge are talking and moving about above ; and, 

 moreover, when the fog-bell rings they do not mind 

 the sound, though other birds at once desert the 



