XV111 PREFACE. 



as an extremely rare visitant to any part of the island ; this species 

 would be affected by the absence of wood. The Bittern, on the 

 other hand, affected by the draining of the bogs, has almost 

 ceased to breed in Ireland, though it commonly did so through- 

 out the island, until a late period. It now ranks as little more 

 than an occasional winter visitant from more northern countries. 

 The curlew, golden plover, lapwing, and others, have been driven 

 from many of their breeding grounds by the drainage of the 

 bogs ; as has the shell-drake from many rabbit -burrows, which 

 are no longer retired, owing to the increase of population. This has 

 likewise influenced the whimbrel to change its haunts around 

 Belfast, where, until the last forty or fifty years, it regularly fre- 

 quented the pastures, iucluding the upland ones, during the few 

 weeks of its sojourn when on migration northwards. Of late 

 years, it has been seen only on the sea-shore : pastures and bogs 

 seemed to be its favourite places of resort in spring. The total 

 disappearance of the beautiful goldfinch and bullfinch from 

 districts which they had regularly frequented, the varying in- 

 crease and decrease of the swallow tribe, partridge, &c, will 

 be found treated of under the species, as will the great in- 

 crease and decrease of the black-headed gull at particular 

 localities. 



It is not on the land only that changes have taken place. 

 Wigeon, in consequence of being too much disturbed in Belfast 

 bay, by increase of shipping, steam-vessels, &c, even by night — 

 their feeding time — have greatly diminished within the last 

 twenty years. Previous to that period, they arrived here every 

 evening at twilight, in vast numbers from Strangford lough, and 

 after remaining to feed during the night, again retired every 

 morning before daybreak, to the comparative quietude of its 

 waters. Morning and evening, shooters took their station on the 



