NOTES AND QUERIES. 229 
repeatedly seen Sclavonian Grebe in summer plumage called Hared 
Grebe, and do not wonder at the mistake, as they are far better named 
by their Latin name (P. auritus).— H. W. Ropinson (Lansdowne 
House, Lancaster). 
Ornithological Notes from Mayo and Sligo.— The unusually cold, 
wet, and stormy weather during March and April, combined with the 
long continuance of high northerly, north-west, and north-east winds, 
and the three days’ snowstorms from April 23rd to 26th, delayed the 
arrival of many of our spring visitors, and also had the effect of 
driving many of our resident small birds far inland for shelter from 
the bitter northerly gales; and the consequent result is that very few 
of the latter returned to breed in their old haunts about here. The 
Chaffinches, Yellowhammers, and the three species of Tits appeared 
to be the only birds that held their ground. Blackbirds were in fair 
numbers, but not as many as last season, while the Song-Thrushes 
were remarkably scarce. Only two pairs were observed about this 
place, when in other seasons many pairs bred in the garden and 
plantations. Only one pair of Greenfinches bred in the garden this 
season, where several pairs had nests, and also about the place in 
other years. Hven Sky-Larks deserted our fields, and very few 
Meadow-Pipits remained. Altogether the scarcity of our resident 
small birds is very remarkable. The Sandwich Terns were unusually 
late, not appearing in the estuary until April 17th, which was strange, 
because several were observed on Lough Conn on the 12th, showing 
that they kept to the open bay, probably from scarcity of food inside 
the estuary. Whimbrels were heard on the 30th, as usual appearing 
by May Ist, or a day or two earlier, this season. On April 29th I 
observed a Common Sandpiper, the first time I ever saw one on 
the shore here in spring, though they always put in an appearance 
on their return from the inland breeding haunts. A few Swallows 
appeared on the 18th on the Bunree River, near Ballina, but it was 
not until the end of the month that they spread out over the country. 
On May 2nd Little Terns were seen on the estuary, and by the 11th 
the three species—Common, Arctic, and Little—were in large num- 
bers fishing about the estuary. The White Wagtails visited Bartragh 
on the 6th inst., when eight birds were seen, but evidently did not 
remain for any time. However, on the succeeding day (the 7th) 
Captain Kirkwood had the pleasure of seeing a fresh arrival of 
ten birds. He was in his garden when he was attracted by the 
sight of some small birds flying high overhead; these, when pass- 
ing over, suddenly lowered their flight and dropped down outside 
