2 g 4 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



the latter figure of course including the many species of sea and 

 shore-birds which did not frequent his locality. The yearly list 

 yielded about 77 species, with a monthly average of about 52, the 

 Summer months giving a large preponderance over those of 

 Winter. Of the 96 species observed he had proof of the nesting 

 of 68 within the district. Mr. Foster then alluded to the various 

 systematic methods of grouping birds, but, following the order 

 obtaining in the B.O.U. List, he detailed all the species he had 

 observed, and interspersed his remarks with many interesting facts 

 respecting the peculiarities, nesting habits, &c, of the various 

 species. Amongst the more interesting species may be mentioned 

 the irruption of Waxwings in the Winter of 1903-4, a portrait of 

 one of these birds, shot near Hillsborough, being thrown on the 

 screen. The thirteenth recorded Irish specimen of that sub- 

 Arctic bird, the Rough-legged Buzzard, was obtained in the same 

 neighbourhood. The Canada Goose had made its appearance in 

 the district some years ago, and though not protected in any way, 

 it had since regularly nested there, though as yet ornithologists 

 refused it a place on the Irish List. The Mute Swan, introduced 

 into the country many years ago, was not, as many supposed, 

 merely to be seen in a captive or semi-captive state on some 

 ornamental waters, but existed here at all events in a perfectly 

 feral condition, and to the speaker's knowledge at least eight pairs 

 annually bred in the district ; whilst on one of the lakes, a view 

 of which was projected on the screen, it was by no means 

 uncommon to observe in Winter as many as one hundred of these 

 birds. In May, 1904, a bird shot in the district was brought to 

 the lecturer for identification, which proved to be a mature female 

 Turtle-Dove — a bird common in England during the Summer 

 months, but only on rare occasions observed in Ireland. 



The lecture was illustrated by fifty lantern slides, mainly from 

 photographs taken in the district specially for this evening, and 

 the lantern was manipulated by Mr. A. R. Hogg. Perhaps the 

 most interesting of the views was a pair, in the first of which was 



