THE BIRDS OF THE MOY ESTUARY. 323 
Bernicle Goose, Anser bernicla.—Very rare in this district. In 
October, 1867, a solitary bird for several days frequented the Moy- 
view shore, but I was unsuccessful in obtaining it. It was afterwards 
shot by a neighbouring farmer. Captain Dover informed me that 
when punt-shooting at Drumcliffe, Sligo Bay, he occasionally fell 
in with small flocks of this species. 
Brent Goose, Anser brenia.—Occasionally seen in the Bay and 
Estuary, but seldom remains longer than a day or two, for there 
are no beds of Zostera where they can feed by day undisturbed, 
the only beds being so close to the village of Ballysokeery that 
even the Wigeon scarcely ever feed on them except at dusk or 
during the night. The chief haunts of the Brent Geese on the 
Mayo coast is Blacksod Bay, near Bellmullet, where they may be 
seen in thousands throughout the winter. 
Shelldrake, Tadorna vulpanser.—Has again become resident of 
late years. Since 1873 a pair have reared their young every season 
in the Bartragh rabbit-burrows, though previous to that date I only 
remember seeing them in winter. The cause of their return to the 
old breeding haunts may be attributed to the strict preservation of 
the warren by the owner, Captain Kirkwood, who since he has 
taken up his residence at Bartragh House has most carefully 
preserved the island from summer poachers. 
Shoveller, Anas clypeata.—Very rare, and has only once come 
under my notice. On January Ist, 1862, I observed a fine adult 
male Shoveller amongst a flock of Wigeon on the river. In 
November, 1870, Capt. Dover, when punt-shooting near Bartragh, 
shot a beautiful pair, male and female, which he presented to the 
Royal Dublin Society’s Museum. 
Wild Duck, Anas boschas.—Very common in the district. A few 
small flocks are occasionally seen in the estuary, a hard night’s 
frost always increasing their numbers, but the great body of them 
always keep on the lakes and inland waters, and when some of the 
large flocks come down from their inland haunts to the sea-coast 
they do not rest with the Wigeon in the estuary, but keep outside 
Bartragh in the open bay, and, if the weather is stormy, rest on the 
sands of that island facing the sea. On some mornings hundreds 
may be seen on their passage from the lakes to the sea, where they 
remain safe from molestation all day, and after dark they return 
in little detached parties to their inland feeding grounds. They 
breed in suitable localities throughout the district, and though an 
