124 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



few years, as I am informed by the Hon. B. Fitz- 

 patrick, two were shot at Abbeyleix, Queen's County. 

 Mr. Patterson records his having obtained a fine 

 specimen from Lough Neagh. I have four or five 

 times seen Smews in good plumage on various 

 parts of the Irish coast, but have not personally 

 ever shot an adult specimen, but merely a couple of 

 immature birds. Mr. Williams, the well-known 

 Dublin bird-stuffer, tells me he has every winter 

 picked up a few young Smews in the markets, but 

 that the old male is very rarely obtained. 



