158 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



and profit. The particular district I have in view is very mountainous. 

 Large tracts of bog are to be found in the valleys ; on the hill-sides 

 small lakes lie hidden, closely resembling the tarns of the North of 

 England. Near by is a large bay — a river flows into it ; the estuary 

 is a very favourable place for observing the Waders, Eedshanks flying 

 up from the bay with a loud rush of wings in companies of twenty or 

 thirty, and other species following in their wake. Rather farther down 

 various species of Ducks may be noticed. The country is eminently 

 suitable for the larger Falconida, and it was rather surprising that 

 I did not meet with either the Common Buzzard or the Peregrine 

 Falcon, though I believe the latter nests farther down the coast. The 

 Tits were unaccountably scarce ; the Blue Tit was seen in fair numbers, 

 and a single example of the Great Tit was noticed, but that was all, 

 though there were several localities which seemed to be suited to the 

 requirements of the Parida, in every respect. The Blackbirds and 

 Thrushes were singing beautifully ; nowhere else have I seen either 

 species in such large numbers. Additional records of sea-fowl would 

 probably have been obtained if I had been able to get farther down the 

 bay, but upon the days I intended to go the sea was invariably too 

 rough for the boat to venture out. The following notes only refer to 

 the more interesting birds, all mention of the commoner species being 

 omitted : — 



The Snow-Bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis) comes first on my list. 

 On only one occasion was this species noticed. There were about a 

 score of them picking amongst the sand in a very lively manner ; they 

 were, however, very wild, and difficult to approach. 



The Chough {Pxjrrhocorax graculus), according to the natives, is 

 much scarcer than of old. I first saw this species on the bank of a 

 stream, about a mile and a half from the sea. There was a pair 

 of them. On the ground they appeared to be smarter in their move- 

 ments than the Rook, picking about much more quickly, and moving 

 in a sprightlier fashion. On the wing it is, at a distance, impossible 

 to distinguish them from the larger bird. The Chough often feeds 

 in company with the Rook, the two species being on friendly terms. 

 On one occasion two birds, one of either species, were observed feeding 

 together ; when disturbed they flew some distance, but again pitched 

 within a yard or two of each other. Their call resembles that of the 

 Jackdaw, but is pitched much higher. In another locality which I 

 visited they are still common, as many as a score being occasionally 

 seen together, though they more usually go in pairs. These birds 

 appear to be very fond of perching on the peat-stacks, where they sit 



