Clare Inland Survey — Aves. 20 19 



Emberiza schoeniclus, Linn. Heed Bunting. — On Clare Island Barrington 

 saw many in March, and through the summer pairs were observed in a 

 few places where they evidently bred, but we have no winter record. 

 On the mainland, as about Westport, Good says this bird is common in 

 winter. It is resident on Achill, and in summer is one of the very few 

 widely distributed birds on the moorlands of Donegal and Erris, Co. Mayo. 

 Eggs in Dublin Museum were taken by H. M. Wallis from a hole in 

 the top of a stack off Aranmore. We observed it on Inishbofin; and in 

 Connemara, as elsewhere, it nests on islands in the bog lakes. No Beed 

 Bunting has been sent to Barrington from any western lighthouse, and 

 the name of this bird is generally unknown in Ireland. 



Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). Snow-Bunting. — Barrington obtained a speci- 

 men in October and Patten another in December on Clare Island. 

 Hammond recorded the species there, twice in March, once in April, 

 once 10th September (an early date), and twice in October. This is a 

 frequent or regular winter visitor to the islands and coasts from Donegal 

 to Kerry between October and April, remaining on Black Bock even when 

 the spray is flying over it for days ; and Snow-Buntings are sometimes 

 seen later than April ; thus Barrington has received specimens in 

 May from Aranmore, Bathlin O'Birne, Slyne Head, and the Tearaght, 

 and an adult male in full breeding-plumage from Aranmore shot on 

 25th July. These occurrences favour the hope that the bird may yet 

 be found breeding in Ireland, possibly in Donegal. 



Sturnus -vulgaris, Linn. Starling.— Winter visitor in flocks to Clare Island 

 from October to March. Increasing and extending its breeding- range 

 throughout Ireland, but much more numerous in winter ; a few nest on 

 Achill now (B. B. Sheridan), though none did so twenty years ago. Bred 

 on the cliffs of Aranmore in 1886, on the Aran Islands before 1890, on 

 the cliffs of Valencia in 1891 ; but these were only advanced posts. A 

 new feature is the appearance of summer flocks, like the twenty Starlings 

 seen around Waterville in July, 1891 (Dennehy), composed no doubt of 

 Irish-bred Starlings, which now appear in so many districts. No winter 

 migrant visits the western islands more largely, especially in times of 

 snow. Witherby saw a pathetic sight on High Island and Cruagh (both 

 uninhabited), a great number of dead birds, chiefly Starlings, the victims 

 of hard weather. 



Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linn.). Chough. — Clare Island may happily be called 

 a sanctuary of the Chough, where it is resident and common ; and as far 

 as the orders of the Lord Lieutenant can go, both birds and eggs are 



C2 



