154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



who thought it was a Wild Goose ; it was sent to us for identification, 

 and proved to be a female Great Bustard in excellent plumage. Its 

 stomach contained turnip-tops. This, we believe, is the first record of 

 this species in Ireland. The gentleman who turned down the Great 

 Bustards in Norfolk has carefully examined the specimen, but cannot 

 identify it as one of his birds. — Williabis & Son (2, Dame Street, 

 Dublin). 



Stone Curlew in Merioneth. — A specimen of the Stone Curlew 

 (CEdicnemus scolojmcc) was shot at Towyn on Jan. 6th by Mr. D. W. 

 Kirkley, who informs me that when first noticed it was feeding in a 

 turnip-field. It whistled as it flew swiftly by, and was shot on the 

 wing. The wind was south-east, and there was a frost that morning. 

 This is the first example of the bird recorded in North Wales. — H. F. 

 Forrest (Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury). 



Purple Sandpiper (Tringa striata) in Anglesey. — As this bird 

 appears to be somewhat rare in Anglesey, it may be worth recording 

 that on March 18th I saw a fine specimen on Dinas Frefriw, a rocky 

 promontory south of Aberffraw Bay, It allowed me a near approach 

 and time for inspection before taking flight, as is often the case with 

 this species. — S. G. Cummings (King's Buildings, Chester). 



Protection of Red-throated Diver at its Irish Breeding-place. — 

 Mr. W. C. Wright's " Ornithological Notes from Co. Donegal " (ante, 

 p. 89) aroused my mingled feelings of indignation and regret when I 

 read his sad account of the continued persecution of the Red-throated 

 Divers (Colymbus septentrionalis) at the only breeding-place in Ireland 

 at present known to naturalists — two clutches taken from the one pair 

 of birds, and the third, of which Mr. Wright saw the product ; one bird, 

 probably escaping the hands of the depredator, owing to the vigilance 

 of the keepers preventing the eggs being taken by the boatman, who 

 related to Mr. Wright his glorious exploit of swimming out to the 

 island on which the nest was situated and taking the eggs. It is really 

 a scandalous state of things that dealers, egg-collectors, and self-dubbed 

 naturalists, should hasten the extermination of our rarer birds by 

 offering such large bribes to poor persons as tempt them to harry the 

 nests of birds even in preserved districts ; for instance, the fact related 

 by Mr. Wright of the old woman who was paid thirty shillings for the 

 clutch of four Chough's eggs. However, I am happy to say that the 

 facts stated by Mr. Wright have so aroused the indignation of Mr. 

 Herdman, the owner of the shooting and lakes, that he has issued 

 strict orders to his keepers for the preservation of the Divers, and to 

 prevent the visits of these predatory gentlemen to the district, who if 



