THE BIRDS OF THE MOY KSTUARY. 237 
Snowy Owl, Siriv nyctea.—A rare winter visitor, or perhaps 
should rather be classed as a straggler, having occurred only twice 
in this district. The first that appeared was shot by the late 
Mr. T. Palmer, in his demesne, Summer Hill, near Killala, on the 
26th January, 1856; and the second was seen in November, 1860, 
by Mr. Palmer’s son, at the same place, but he was unable to 
_ secure it. The specimen obtained by Mr. Palmer is now in the 
possession of Colonel E. Knox, of Castlerea, near Killala. 
Order INSESSORES. 
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola.— A regular summer 
visitant to this district, but late in making its appearance. Two 
pairs build in the garden and trees near the house here every 
season. In 1872 it was first seen on the 31st May, and observed 
building on the 11th June. In 1878, first seen on the 15th May, 
and hatching on the Ist June. In 1875, first seen 17th May. In 
1876, 14th May. 
Pied Flycatcher, Muscicapa atricapilla.—The first redeidel 
visit of this bird to Ireland was noticed by me in ‘The Zoologist’ 
for June, 1875 (p. 4498). It was an adult female bird and appeared 
here on the 18th April of that year. My attention was attracted 
by seeing it catching insects, and it appeared to me so strange 
that a Flycatcher should be seen so early in the season that 
I watched it attentively for some time. Observing that it hada 
smaller head and closer-looking plumage than the Spotted Fly- 
catcher, as well as a faint appearance of white on the wing, I began 
to doubt its being of that species; so the following day, to make 
certain, I shot it, and then found it to be a female Pied Flycatcher. 
It is preserved in the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society, Kildare 
Street, Dublin. 
Dipper, Cinclus aquaticus.—Resident wherever there are suitable 
rocky streams. 
Missel Thrush, Turdus visctvorus.—Resident and common, and 
has become more numerous here of late years. When seen in parks 
in September these birds are often mistaken for Fieldfares. 
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris.—A regular winter visitant. 
Song Thrush, Turdus musicus—Common, but not so numerous 
as in the County Cork, nor do I see much addition to their numbers 
at the time of the autumnal migration, probably because the line of 
migration is more to the eastward. 
