286 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
in May, and frequently in August, when many still retain some of 
their summer plumage. 
Oystercatcher, Hematopus ostralegus——Common, and may be 
seen sometimes in flocks of a hundred birds. I have not yet 
discovered any breeding haunt in the district. 
Heron, Ardea cinerea.—There are several heronries in the 
district, so that the species is not uncommon. 
Curlew, Numenius arquata.—Frequents the bay and estuary in 
immense numbers, and even in summer a good many may be seen 
about the shores, although, so far as I am aware, none breed within 
the district. 
Whimbrel, Numenius pheopus.—A spring and autumn migrant, 
appearing in May, and again in August, but in autumn it is not 
seen in such numbers as in spring. 
Redshank, Totanus calidris.—A very common species, and early 
in July a few, on their return from the breeding grounds, may be 
seen assembling on the shores of the little islands near Roserk 
Abbey (probably birds bred in the district). About the end of the 
month hundreds of both young and old assemble at the same place, 
and some of the young have the feathers of the wings not quite 
pointed, showing that their nesting-place could not be far away, 
since no birds with the wings not fully grown could take a long 
flight. Their early gathering also seems to indicate the nearness 
of their breeding haunts. These large flocks remain about Roserk 
for about a month or six weeks, after which they separate into 
smaller flocks, and by the end of October their numbers have 
diminished down to the usual winter stock of Redshanks frequenting 
the shores. 
Spotted Redshank, Totanus fuscus.—lI first met with this rare 
bird in the great frost of January, 1867: it was feeding in a little 
muddy bay between Moyview and Killanley, and, as I was returning 
from snipe shooting, I wished to discharge my gun, as a preparation 
for washing, and seeing a Redshank feeding a long way off I took 
a chance shot at it, and fortunately knocked it over. My dog 
fetched it, but as it was nearly dark at the time I only remarked 
that its bill and legs were very long and slender, and thinking it 
merely a variety of the Redshank I put it into my bag, unconscious 
of having secured such a prize—the second example of the species 
known to have been obtained in Ireland., My next meeting with 
the Spotted Redshank was in January, 1869, when one day my 
