2/6 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



catchers, Curlews, and Small Waders, Plovers, 

 Golden, Grey, and Green. Ravens are fairly 

 numerous, and nest in the cliffs.* The Chough is 

 common. The late Mr. Pike used often to tame 

 them, and had one that every night for four years 

 roosted over the kitchen fireplace. He never 

 allowed them to be shot, considering them some- 

 what scarce elsewhere. Woodcocks and Snipe 

 abound in their season. 



Mr. Sheridan, of the Slievemore Inn, Achill, who 

 has made a study of the birds there, says : 



" Bewick's Swan and the rarer Hooper visit this 

 island about the end of November and leave the 

 end of February. Bewick's Swan is much the 

 commoner of the two. I often counted over one 

 hundred together on a lake in the neighbourhood 

 (Keel). Great numbers of swans might be shot 

 every year, but the late Mr. Pike and Lord Cavan, 

 whose lakes they frequent, objected to their being 

 disturbed. A few years ago half a dozen Bewick 

 Swans remained till the end of May, and might 

 possibly have bred, had they been able to find a 

 place to their liking for the purpose. 



" Bernicle Geese visit Achill in astonishing num- 

 bers, arriving about November ist and leaving in 

 March. I have known eight killed at one shot 

 with a shoulder-gun. Brent Geese are far less 

 numerous, though I have, now and then, seen them 

 in hard weather on Lord Cavan's Salt Water Lake, 

 which borders the sea. Bean Geese visit us every 

 winter, and about four o'clock in the evening 



* Ravens are by no means scarce in a few districts in Ireland, but 

 are more abundant near Caragh lake, co. Kerry, than elsewhere. 



