NOTES AND QUERIES. 297 
breast. Further down the channel nearer to Killala I saw about a dozen 
Sanderlings, all in the grey dress, and between thirty and forty Turnstones, 
several of which were assuming the breeding plumage, and one that I shot 
had very nearly attained the perfect summer dress. I also observed a large 
flock of Dunlins, the greater part of which were showing the black breasts 
and rusty-coloured backs of summer. When I reached Killala Pool a 
splendid pair of Great Northern Divers were fishing about it; one was in 
the winter plumage, but the other appeared to be in the full summer dress, 
the white ring round its neck appearing quite perfect, and, although I was 
anxious to obtain the bird for a friend’s collection, I was unable to get 
within shot, it was so watchful. While paddling about trying to get a shot 
at the Diver, several Grey Seals came within half a shot of the punt, 
Moyne Channel, as far as Killala Pool, being a favourite haunt of Seals, 
especially during summer, where a small herd regularly haunt a sand-bank, 
where they congregate at low tide to rest and bask in the sunshine. One 
day some years ago I counted between twenty-five and thirty Seals, large 
and small, lying on that bank, but since then they have decreased in 
numbers, and seventeen is the greatest number I have seen assembled 
there of late years. On returning from Moyne past Bartragh to the 
eastern side of the estuary, near Scurmore ice-house, I observed a second 
pair of Great Northern Divers, which, as well as I could make out with my 
glass, were in the breeding plumage ; and a little further on, near Moyview, 
three Red-throated Divers appeared, two displaying the red throats and 
plumage of summer. Cuckoos have been unusually numerous about here 
this season, while Whitethroats have been scarcer than usual.—RoBerr 
Wanren (Moyview, Ballina). 
Notes from North Yorkshire.—In consequence, I suppose, of the 
cold and backward season many birds seem to be laying less than the usual 
complement of eggs. I have noted, amongst others, a Robin, Snipe, 
and Hedgesparrow, each sitting on three eggs; a Chaffinch and two Brown 
Owls, each sitting on two eggs. On April 30th some Green Sandpipers 
called here on migration. I am convinced this species breeds in some of 
the more secluded districts in this county. How else can we account for 
their regular appearance in spring, and their return towards autumn 
(invariably the second week in August) accompanied by their youug ? 
Were they breeding in another country they would hardly migrate N.W. 
up this river in spring en route to their breeding-grounds. Stock Doves 
are increasing in number, and seem to find a scarcity of suitable breeding- 
holes. My brother and I have already found three nests placed in the 
forks of ivy-covered trees in such a position as a Wood Pigeon chooses. 
Another nest in a bank side, two feet from the ground, in an open ploughed 
field. We found a Waterhen’s egg in a hole in a dead tree eight feet from 
ZOOLOGIST.— JuLY, 1886. U3 
