PREFACE. XIX 



hill tops, over which the birds often flew within shot ; but of 

 late such " occupation 's gone." Similar changes respecting 

 others of the Anatidte, and also of the Grallatores, will be found 

 under the respective species. The beautiful and graceful roseate 

 tern has nearly, if not wholly, disappeared within the last few 

 years from a favourite annual breeding haunt, the Mew island, at 

 the entrance of Belfast bay, the result, I grieve to say, of wanton 

 cruelty. Persons go to the island every summer to shoot these 

 birds, and the closely allied Arctic and common terns, while 

 they have eggs or young. Should one even of a different species 

 be brought to the ground, while the others are a little distant, 

 they make common cause, wheel down towards their fallen com- 

 rade as if to compassionate its fate, and are even at such times 

 "savagely slaughtered." The shooters have no object in view 

 but the heartless one of using as targets these beautiful and in- 

 nocent creatures, which are afterwards flung away as useless. 



Other birds have increased in number of late years ; the most 

 striking example of which, for a regular and steady augmentation, 

 is the missel thrush. The long-tailed tit has also become gradu- 

 ally more plentiful : the extension of plantations is accessory 

 to this end, in respect to both species. The singular increase 

 of snow-buntings during a few winters will be found noticed ; as 

 will that of crossbills in recent years. Allusion to the rapid 

 multiplication of the magpie from the period of its introduction 

 to the island, must not be omitted. The fact of the starling having 

 deserted the town of Belfast as a building haunt for perhaps forty 

 years, and two or three pair returning again last season, is singular. 

 The increase in the number of quails wintering of late years, and 

 in the number of woodcocks remaining through the summer, to 

 breed in favourite localities, is worthy of record. 



A great deal more might be stated, in these general terms, on 



