G2 BTTBIIN NATURAL HI8I0BY eOCIETY. 



but in the adult a band of buif feathers covers the breast, extending up- 

 wards. The colour of the eye of the young birds is ashey-grey ; in the 

 adult it is orange-red ; and probably the same takes place in the eyes of 

 other birds that, when mature, are of a bright red or yellow, as in the 

 case of the Egyptian goose, &c. "We are told, also, there is a cere round 

 the eyes to the base of the beak, which, in the immature birds, is covered 

 with feathers. 



Fortunately for information, these birds all fell into the hands 

 of inquiring observers, by whom it was thought advisable to examine 

 the contents of the stomachs, so as to find out on what these birds sub- 

 sisted during a season the most inclement we have had for several years, 

 in spite of which the birds were in fine condition. In the works that I 

 have been able to consult, the food is set down as small Crustacea, mol- 

 luscs, spawn of fishes, &c., but in none, except Morris, who says, *'in 

 addition, they eat grasses and the roots of plants," do I find any mention 

 of what all these birds' stomachs contained, vegetable matter, probably 

 some of the marsh grasses ; no traces of Crustacea or animal matter were 

 found. JS'ow, looking to the conformation of its beak, armed with a 

 sharp broad nail at the end, I do not see why vegetable substances 

 should not form a portion of their food, as in the case of the duck tribe, 

 the palate and sides of whose beaks are not very dissimilar ; and therein 

 perhaps we may find a provision of nature by which the bird, in the ab- 

 sence of more favourite food, may adapt itself to altered circumstances; 

 the breast-bones of these birds are produced before you ; but I regret I 

 am unable to exhibit the trachea, which are very remarkable, but, 

 owing to some misunderstanding, they were not preserved. The fine 

 plate in Yarrell's ** British Birds," showing the peculiar figure of 8 con- 

 tortion, will, however, supply the deficiency, and enable the Members to 

 observe its peculiarity. 



In the work of the late Mr. Thompson, we find records up to 1846 

 of those shot in Ireland ; but I suspect others, as well as of many birds 

 considered extremely rare, but not so, are, from the non-observant habits 

 of our country gentlemen, altogether overlooked. I have heard that 

 Dr. Harvey, of Cork, is aware of one shot in that county in 1859, and 

 another at Westport ; another was shot at the mouth of the Boyne, about 

 the year 1854, by Reynolds, warrener to James Brabazon, Esq., of Mor- 

 nington, but unfortunately not preserved, although lying for some time 

 in the kitchen, and finally tlxrown out. 



It would seem remarkable, that in the accounts published of the se- 

 veral captures, all the instances are on the sea-board, none in the inland 

 counties, although extensive lakes and marshes abound, the resort of 

 birds feeding similarly. The records of Thompson show that in 1808 one 

 was shot in the Co. Antrim ; two in Donegal in 1837 and 1 838 ; one in the 

 County Dublin, near Malahide (the specimen in the Society's collection), 

 in ITovember, 1841 ; one in the Co. Wicklow, in October, 1844; three 

 in the Co. Wexford, in 1836, November, 1844, and in July, 1840; three 

 in the Co. Waterford, in 1829, 1843, and 1845 ; two in the Co. Kerry, 

 in 1832 and 1846 ; to the foregoing list, those shot in the Co. Cork are 



