ON SOME GULLS OBSERVED IN IRELAND. 23 



was with me) that it was a good chance to try and stalk the bird 

 from behind another little sandhill, and asked him to try it, but 

 he only laughed at the idea of shooting such a wary bird. So, 

 giving him the Gull to carry to the house, I made my way 

 to the sandhills, and quietly crept up behind the sheltering 

 hummock to within about ten yards of the one the Eagle was 

 standing on. I put my gun to my shoulder as I raised my head 

 over the sheltering hummock and, on the instant, the bird spread 

 his wings to go, but too late, for I fired and knocked him dead 

 with a charge of No. 5 shot. He was a very large bird, in the 

 second year's plumage. Had he not been gorged with a heavy 

 feed of Rabbits and Hake (over six pounds weight), I don't think 

 I should have succeeded, the heavy feed causing him to be care- 

 less and not so watchful as usual. 



On December 9th, when walking on the Enniscrone Sands 

 by the river, I saw a very dark specimen, evidently in its first 

 year's plumage, in the company of some Herring and Common 

 Gulls ; it was remarkably tame and unsuspicious, allowing me 

 to approach within eight or ten yards. 



1855. — On December 9th a bird, evidently an adult from its 

 pure white plumage, flew close over Moy View Cottage towards 

 the estuary sands. 



1862. — On January 26th I caught, on a baited hook, the 

 young bird (ante) that had been haunting the ploughed fields for 

 over a month. 



On January 27th, when riding along the Enniscrone Sands, 

 among a number of small Gulls I observed a very dark-coloured 

 bird that must have been in its first season's plumage; its tame- 

 ness in allowing me to ride within eight or ten yards was also 

 good evidence of the fact. 



1866. — On January 6th I shot a bird in that creamy-coloured 

 plumage that I consider the second year's stage. This bird had 

 been in one of my ploughed fields for several days past. 



On February 19th I rode within ten yards of a bird, in its 

 first year's plumage, as it was resting on the Enniscrone Sands. 



1873. — On Sunday, January 26th, as I was walking with my 

 friend, the late Captain Dover, near Dooneen House, a bird flew 

 out from the fields and pitched on the road within twenty yards 

 of where we were standing, then after some time searching for 



