Clare Island Survey — Aves. 20 17 



Linota linaria (Linn.). Mealy Eedpoll {L. holbodli (Breh.), L. rostrata 

 (Coues)). A series has been obtained on Achill, including all three forms, 

 chiefly in autumn, but once in February. In October, 1898, the late 

 Ed. "Williams saw Mealy Eedpolls there each day from the 14th to the 

 21st, and obtained one. 



Another series of the large race rostrata was received by Barrington 

 in different years from the Tearaght, all in autumn, between 1889 and 

 1893, and one in January, 1898, from Inishtrahull. We may expect 

 Mealy Eedpolls, therefore, at any point on the west coast (including Clare 

 Island) from Donegal to Kerry. All the winter specimens have come 

 from islands. 



Linota rufescens (Vieill.). Lesser Eedpoll. — The nest has been found in 

 Achill, the Mullet, Killybegs, and Aranniore. The bird is common near 

 Westport, Louisburgh, and most parts of Connaught and Ulster ; resident 

 near Ballina (Warren}. Large flocks in winter lead a nomadic life ; but 

 there is no evidence from the Migration Eeports of a transmarine 

 migration. 



Linota flavirostris (Linn.). Twite. — Common resident on Clare Island, where 

 the nest has been found, and many families seen forming into flocks : 

 specimens obtained in December and March. Patten saw a flock mobbing 

 a Peregrine. The rocky, mountainous coasts and islands of western 

 Ireland are favourite homes of the Twite ; on Achill it is resident and 

 breeds ; on Inishturk a huge pit in the bare top of the island, lined with 

 luxuriant ferns, communicates with a sea-cave below: in this Praeger 

 and Stelfox found a swarm of Twites roosting on 22nd July. They nest 

 among heather on islands in the bog-lakes of Connemara (Leybourne 

 Popham). In North Mayo they breed on the slopes of the higher hills ; 

 but a nest was found on a low-lying bog (H. Scroope). Twites are very 

 common on Inishbotin and the Aran Islands, towards which flocks fly from 

 Connemara on winter evenings (Teesdale) ; common, too, on the Dingle 

 hills and Valencia. Barrington has received specimens from September 

 to April from the Donegal lighthouses and from the Tearaght and Bull 

 Bock, but from no other part of Ireland ; and it is probable that the 

 frequent flocks of " Linnets " reported in winter and spring from Clare 

 Island and other western isles are largely composed of Twites, the latter 

 name being generally unknown in Ireland. 



Pyrrmua europaea, Vieill. Bullfinch. — Breeds about Westport, where it is 

 resident. Though not a bird of the coasts and islands, the Bullfinch's 

 increase in Ireland has extended to those parts of western Donegal. 

 R.I.A, J?KOC, vol. xxxi. C 20 



