— ee a 
NOTES FROM THE MOY ESTUARY. 174 
Divers were very scarce, three birds being the greatest number 
1 saw on any day when out in my punt; indeed, since I com- 
menced punt-shooting I never remember these birds so scarce in 
this neighbourhood. 
Wild Geese appeared in their usual numbers this winter, aud on 
the 13th April I saw a great many resting in the meadows along 
the Moy near Foxford, their usual haunts. When passing near 
the railway, I remarked some birds within a hundred and fifty or 
two hundred yards of the train, and, as well as I could judge, 
they were White-fronted Geese—the commonest inland-feeding 
geese we have. 
Wild Swans did not come under my observation this winter, nor 
did I notice their whooping call, so often heard when the birds 
pass over this locality on their way to the mountain loughs in 
Erris. 
On the 2lst December, when at Bartragh, | saw either an 
Iceland or Glaucous Gull flying over the Enniscrone sand-hills ; 
and on the 26th, when walking near Killanly Marsh, | observed 
a young Iceland Gull, in company with a young Herring Gull, 
sitting on the water about forty yards from the shore. The Iceland 
bird seemed to be in the second year’s plumage—at least it was in 
that creamy-looking stage that appears to me to indicate the 
second year. On the 29th December, being anxious to obtain 
some Purple Sandpipers for a friend’s collection, 1 visited a 
favourite haunt of theirs on the coast, about two miles below Ennis- 
crone, and when about half-way down I observed a young Iceland 
Gull flying about a grass-field in which a flock of Common Gulls 
were resting ; but, as it did not come within shot, I went on to the 
Sandpipers’ haunt, and having obtained a few specimens I set out 
on my return, and when again passing by the field in which I had 
seen the Iceland Gull in the morning, I was agreeably surprised to 
find it there still. It flew out over the shore, and wheeling round 
within shot gave me a chance, which I took advantage of and 
brought it down. It proved to be an immature bird in the first 
year’s plumage, and was the same | had seen in the morning, for 
a broken feather in the wing enabled me easily to identify it. 
On the 17th January, when returning from Bartragh in my punt, 
I observed a young Black-backed Gull on the rocks near Scurmore, 
feeding on some garbage left by the tide. Shortly after, a young 
Glaucous Gull, passing by, and seeing it feeding, wheeled round 
