THE WIOEOX. 99 



the end of which month in the same year many remained in 

 Belfast Bay. In 1838, soine also continued there until a late 

 period, as did a number of other migratory species of birds, in 

 consequence of a prevalence of east and north-east winds ;— on 

 the 23rd of April a flock of about forty was seen. 



The decoy-man at Caledon saw an old pair of wigeon frequently 

 there in the summer of 1849 ; and, very early in the autumn, 

 remarked that they were accompanied by three others, which he 

 imagined might be their young. There was no marked disparity 

 in size between the old and the supposed young, when these were 

 first observed ; — the dates weee not remembered. Numbers of 

 wild ducks and teal breed in this demesne. 



Fowlers at Lough Corrib (Mayo) state, that during the time a 

 part of the lake and the adjoining lands were strictly preserved by 

 a proprietor, who died about two years ago, wigeon bred annually 

 there; but as his successor has allowed shooting over the pro- 

 perty, these birds are now only to be seen in winter."^ 



A fowler, who went with liis swivel-gun for a week's wigeon- 

 shooting at Strangford Lough, in 1846, reported, on his return, 

 that either during a hurricane, which took place on the nigjit of 

 Tuesday the 3rd of March, or immediately after it, the wind being 

 from the south, the great body of wigeon left the lough, probably 

 on their northern migration, as on the four following days none 

 but weak birds were to be seen. On the 1st of April, a flock of 

 about two hundred was observed in Belfast Bay : when ap- 

 proached, they went right off northward, as was supposed, on mi- 

 gration ; — on the 17th of this month, six adult males appeared 

 together ; on the 20th, a flock of twenty birds was noticed ; and 

 on the 22nd, a flock was heard at twilight flying towards the bay. 

 In 1847, a flock of thirty wigeon was observed on the 22nd of 

 April, and one of half that number, from which three were shot, 

 on the 1st of May.f These birds gather in such dense flocks, in 



* Mr. R. J. MoEtgomery, Feb. 1850. 



t Mr. R. J. Montgomery, in a letter to me dated April 26, 1849, remarked that 

 he had shot wigeon ia Drogheda Bay about ten days previously. He had not before 

 seen them there so late in the season. The adult male is called golden-head (a nor- 

 thern name for it also), tie female and the young, black wigeon, in that bay. 



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