RECENT OCCURRENCE OF THE RUDDY SHELDRAKE. 393 



in chronological sequence and writing them down in one unbroken 

 list. 



The period embraced by these notes extends from the middle 

 of June to the middle of September. It will be seen that the last 

 ten days of June and first week in July was the time during 

 which most of the birds were noted : towards the end of August 

 and in September the specimens obtained were generally 

 solitary birds, the flocks having by this date left our shores, or 

 been exterminated. 



Ireland. 



June 24th (or 25th). A flock of " about 20 " near Adara, Co. 

 Donegal. One (female) shot. On being shot at, the birds flew 

 over the sand-hills and out to sea ; three returned following 

 morning, and stayed for ten days ; the larger portion of the flock 

 Were not seen again after they had been once shot at. (J. Steele 

 Elliott. * Zoologist,' Aug. p. 311, and in litt.) 



June 26th. A wounded bird came ashore at Skerries, Co. 

 Dublin (female). A flock of seven were seen in the same neigh- 

 bourhood at (or about) this time ; two others were shot, but 

 " allowed to go to the bad." The man who obtained the wounded 

 Sheldrake reported " A good many more birds of the same kind 

 seen on some islands that lie about a mile from the shore." 

 ('Field,' Aug. 20, 1892; E. Williams in litt.) 



July 7th. One shot near Drogheda, at the mouth of the River 

 Boyne (female) ('Field,' Aug. 20, 1892; E. Williams in litt.) 



July 7th. One shot out of a flock of six, between Limerick 

 and Foynes (female). Flock reported as very shy and difficult of 

 approach. (E. Williams in litt.) 



Aug. 4th. Three seen at a distance of about 70 yards, Bally- 

 shannon, Co. Donegal. (W. A. Hamilton, 'Field,' Aug. 20, 1892. 



Aug. 18th. One shot out of a flock of six, near Inch, Co. 

 Donegal (" a young male"). (D. C. Campbell, ' Field,' Aug. 27, 

 1892.) 



Sept. 8th. One shot at Inch, Co. Donegal : bird reported as 

 very wild ; sex — ? (Capt. R. W. Thompson, * Field,' Sept. 19, 

 1892.) 



England, N.W. Coast (Solway District). 

 July 17th. Two seen, River Wampool, Cumberland. One 

 shot and thrown away on a manure -heap ; ultimately rescued in 

 zoologist.— NOV. 1892. 2 L 



