NOTES FROM MAYO AND SLIGO. 29 I 



about a dozen Dunlins, all showing the rusty-coloured back and 

 black breast indicative of summer plumage. 



On landing I disturbed two pairs of the Little Terns, but on 

 walking up to where they had been sitting I found I was too 

 early for eggs, the birds being only preparing the little depres- 

 sions in the fine gravel that were to serve them as nests. Very few 

 of the larger Terns either were sitting. I found only six nests, four 

 with from one to two eggs each, and two with three ; one of the 

 latter nests was in the centre of a little grassy hillock, and the 

 other three eggs were lying on the bare stones, without the 

 slightest attempt at lining of any kind. 



I have no doubt but that most of the larger Terns were the 

 Arctic, from the dark appearance of their under parts when seen 

 flying overhead, and also from the fact that a very large colony 

 of common Terns breed on the low, flat islands of Lough Conn. 



I was glad to have ascertained the fact of the Little Terns 

 breeding on this part of the coast, for although occasionally 

 seeing an odd bird or two, I had no idea of this small colony 

 being so near. On returning along the opposite side of the 

 estuary from Killala, by Killroe and Moyne Abbey, I observed a 

 large flock of Curlews in a field by the shore ; and on the shore, 

 resting along high water-mark, a flock of between 150 and 200 

 Godwits. Although I examined them through my glass for 

 some time, I could not make out a single red-breasted bird, 

 all appearing to be in the grey winter plumage. 



The September and October migration of 1887 was remark- 

 able for the unusually large numbers of Godwits and Grey 

 Plovers that appeared about the sands and shores of the estuary, 

 the latter birds scattered about everywhere, and were unusually 

 tame, there being no difficulty in approaching within shot from a 

 punt, most of them appearing to be young birds, having but 

 little fear of any danger from boat, or punt. However, by the 

 first week in November the greater part of the Grey Plovers 

 disappeared, leaving only the usual numbers that are seen 

 frequenting their haunts round the bay and estuary; but the 

 Godwits remained about the sands all throughout the season. 

 We had a large number of Golden Plover, and fair numbers of 

 Wigeon, but I never remember so few Great Northern and Red- 

 throated Divers about, the birds being absent from many of 

 their usual haunts ; and where two or three used to haunt 



