Birds. 1877 



Migration of the Woodcock. — Mr. St. John supposes that there is a partial mi- 

 gration of those woodcocks that remain and breed in the north of Scotland. " At any 

 rate," says he, " they entirely disappear from woods where any day in June or July I 

 could find several brace. In September and the beginning of October I could never 

 find a single bird, though I have repeatedly tried to do so."— p. 222. " An intelligent 

 master of a ship once told me that in his voyages to and from Norway and Sweden, 

 he has frequently seen them (woodcocks) tired and exhausted, pitch for a moment or 

 two with outspread wings in the smooth water in the ship's wake, and, having rested 

 themselves for a few moments, continue their weary journey."— p. 221 , » Wild Sports 

 in the Highlands' 



Occurrence of the Ruddy Shieldrahe (Tadorna rutila) in Ireland. — " I learn by let- 

 ter from T. W. Warren, Esq., of Dublin, that he has lately added to his fine collec- 

 tion of rare birds obtained in Ireland, an example of this species. The bird, on the 

 second day after being killed, was presented to Mr. Glennon, bird-preserver, by Mr. 

 John P. Prendergast, whose letter respecting it was kindly sent for my perusal. It 

 was there stated that the bird was shot on the Murrogh of Wicklow* on the 7th July, 

 1847, by Mr. John Moreton, of that town. The abode of this species in Europe is in 

 the more southern portion of the eastern countries; the individuals met with in the 

 western parts are considered only accidental visitants: three have been obtained in 

 England." — W. Thompson, in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xx. p. 171. 



Occurrence of Baillon's Crake (Crex Bailloni) in Ireland. — " By letter from Dr. 

 Harvey, of Cork, dated January 13, 1847, I was kindly informed that he had at that 

 time in his possession — temporarily — a specimen of this bird, which was taken in a 

 bog at Clay Castle, near Youghal, on October 30, 1845. It was also remarked that 

 the spotted crake (Crex porz ana) was obtained in the same locality in October, 1843. 

 Dr. Harvey subsequently, at my request, favoured me with a description of the speci- 

 men of C. Bailloni as to dimensions and colour. On applying the description to spe- 

 cimens in the British Museum and in Mr. Yarrell's collection, there was a perfect 

 agreement, except in one particular, the white markings being in some parts of the 

 plumage of the few specimens examined disposed in the form of streaks, which they 

 were said not to be in any part of the individual obtained in Ireland. The specimen 

 belongs to Mr, Samuel Moss, of Youghal. 



" The Crex Bailloni has occurred at various seasons in different parts of England, 

 and is said to breed in some of the northern provinces of France ; hence we should ex- 

 pect its occasional appearance in Ireland." — Id. p. 169. 



Occurrence of the Whiskered Tern (Sterna leucopareia) in Ireland. — "When in 

 Dublin in the month of March last, I saw in the collection of T. W. Warren, Esq., 

 an adult specimen of this very rare tern, which was shot in September, 1839, ' on the 

 river Liffey, between Ringsend and the Pigeon House fort, Dublin bay,' by John Hill, 

 Esq. This gentleman, from shooting much at one period in that bay, and being much 

 interested in scarce birds, obtained some species of the greatest rarity. 



" The S. leucopareia was discovered by M. Natterer, of Vienna, in the south of 

 Hungary, and inhabits chiefly the eastern portion of the south of Europe. It has very 



* " This is an extensive sandy tract bordering the sea near the town of Wicklow ; 

 such a locality as is resorted to by the common shieldrake (T. vidpamer) for the pur. 

 pose of breeding." 



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