158 ANATlDiE. 



scarcely cease diving and splashing about, sometimes the whole 

 company being down together, but remaining below only a very 

 short time. They will allow a small boat to approach within 

 about 200 yards, but, after having got so near, you may expect to 

 see some at least of their number, with much splash and splutter, 

 taking their flight, while the sharp ringing of their wings makes 

 assurance doubly sure that they are on the look-out for more 

 secure and agreeable quarters. Their food is small univalve 

 shells." On the coasts of Waterford and Cork this duck is found, 

 but is not now considered common in the harbour bearing the 

 latter name ; and is very rare in Kerry ; — a couple killed on the 

 the lakes of Killarney are in Mr. R. Chute^s collection. One 

 correspondent of much experience terms the golden-eye common 

 on the inland waters of Connaught, and another mentions a 

 magpie diver* — so called from being pied with black and white, 

 and probably this species — as frequenting Lough Conn and the 

 River Moy, where he has often seen moor buzzards " stoop " to 

 them when on the water.f The author of ' Wild Sports of the 

 West' remarks, that he " noticed the golden-eye upon the 

 estuary." Sir Richard Levinge, writing to me from Knockdrin 

 Castle, county Meath, in October 1838, stated that many moril- 

 lons and golden-eyes were on the waters there in the preceding 

 winter. The species is said to be commoii on the River Shannon, 

 near Portumna. 



Judging from what is said of the golden-eye in England and 

 Scotland, it is perhaps equally numerous in Ireland as in those 

 countries. 



The Buffel-headed Duck, Clangula albeola, Anas albeola, Forst., 

 not known as having ever visited Ireland, is positively recorded 

 in the British catalogue, from one individual having been obtained 

 at Yarmouth, and another in Orkney (Yarrell, 1845). It is a common 

 North American species. 



* This is a name for the smew in England. f Mr. B. Ball. 



