8 4 



[Proc. B.N.F.C., 



lake. The common Sandpiper breeds abundantly, and the Red- 

 shank sparingly on the southern shores. This lake is also the 

 breeding place of another very beautiful bird, the Great Crested 

 Grebe, and it is to be feared that in course of time this bird will 

 become everywhere very scarce, as the skin is used largely by 

 the ladies as material for muffs and tippets. Another grebe, in 

 beautiful summer plumage, was exhibited— the Horned Grebe — 

 shot some years ago on the lake, and the only instance recorded 

 of the bird being found in Ireland in that plumage. In the 

 winter season the lake was the great stronghold of the Duck tribe, 

 eight different kinds— the Wild Duck, Widgeon, Teal, Pochard, 

 Scaup, Tufted Duck, Golden Eye, and Shoveler — have been found 

 frequenting it, all abundant, except one, the Shoveler, and of these, 

 only two species breed, the Wild Duck and Teal. The Wild Duck 

 was the most numerous, occurring in multitudes ; Widgeon nearly as 

 numerous ; then Tufted Ducks, Golden Eyes, the Pochards next, 

 and the Scaup Duck the fewest of all. Of all the ducks nothing 

 can surpass the Pochard for table purposes ; the worst of all the 

 ducks, being nearly as bad eating as a gull, is the Golden Eye. The 

 Wild Swan visits the lake every winter ; there was a flock of 100 

 on it this season. The species, I believe, is Bewick's swan. 1 have 

 never seen any other kind. The lecturer stated that he had made 

 a list of the birds frequenting and visiting the lake, and occurring 

 on the South, within a mile of the shore. He would now hand 

 that list to the Hon. Secretaries of the Club, to be retained as 

 evidence of the birds that are at present to be found in that dis- 

 trict. But when, in the course of time, rich meadows and pleasant 

 homesteads and villages should take the place of the present ex- 

 panse of water most of the birds would disappear, and then it 

 might be desirable that there should be forthcoming some record 

 of the birds which lived upon and visited the lake. An interesting 

 discussion and the election of several new members brought the 

 meeting to a close. 



