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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM CO. DONEGAL. 

 By W. C. Weight. 



Until quite recent years Donegal was, practically speaking, an 

 unknown part of Ireland, but now, thanks to the splendid system 

 of light railways and well-organized coaching tours, one can visit 

 the most remote part with a more or less degree of comfort. 



During the latter part of June and beginning of July (1902) I 

 spent several weeks in visiting some of the breeding resorts of 

 the sea-fowl on the coast and adjacent islands. Starting from 

 Donegal town, you reach the terminus Killybegs by rail, whence 

 the one hundred miles coach tour starts, by taking which one 

 can inspect at leisure the whole seaboard right round to Rosa- 

 penna. 



Killybegs stands in a land-locked lough, in which are several 

 small islands. On some I visited were found large numbers of 

 Arctic Terns (Sterna macrura) nesting; some of the nests were the 

 best attempts at building I have seen, being lined with straw and 

 seaweed. Most of the young were hatched (June 30th), but in 

 several nests I noticed the full clutch of eggs. Ring Plovers 

 were also nesting here ; the eggs were to be found at high-water 

 mark on the bare shingle, no materials of any kind being used. 



Carrick. — From here I visited Rathlin O'Birne island, a 

 lighthouse station, and the most westerly point of Donegal. 

 Storm-Petrels (Procellaria pelagica) were breeding there in large 

 numbers; the eggs I found on the bare ground among large 

 boulders. The female birds were easily captured by the hand, 

 and in every case, when handled, they emitted the peculiar oil, 

 which, to me, diffuses a pleasant odour. The other birds nesting 

 there were Oystercatchers, Herring- Gulls, and a pair of Great 

 Black-backed Gulls ; and, according to the light-keeper, a pair of 

 Choughs had successfully hatched out and brought up a clutch 

 of four eggs this season. During my stay at Carrick I ascended 

 Slieve League, and was shown the eyrie of a pair of Golden 

 Eagles (Aquila chrysaetus) , where they had been successful in 



