160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



observed. I first saw them when rowing out in the bay. The sea 

 was rough ; the Long-tails kept rising a foot or so above the water, 

 and then dropping back again. When flying they usually went in 

 parties of about half a dozen. They flew low, uttering their peculiar 

 call, which sounded to my ear something like the word "cockle." L 

 disturbed in a channel they refused to fly over land, but followed every 

 turn of the water ; thus they often came comparatively close to the 

 boat. On rough days they were occasionally to be seen far up the 

 estuary. 



The Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) was common. The 

 local gunners called them " Divers." They ascended the river at high 

 tide every day, but were very difficult to approach. Three or four 

 usually flew together. 



The Rock-Dove (Columba livia) flies inland daily in order to feed, 

 and is frequently shot when so engaged. The flocks commonly consist 

 of about a dozen birds. . 



The Greenshank (Totanm canescens) was not very abundant. At 

 low tide they were accustomed to fly up the river, and pitch in company 

 with the Redshanks. On one occasion I encountered a flock of about 

 thirty of these birds flying down the course of the stream, but this 

 was exceptional, for at other times only a few odd birds were seen. 



Both the Herring-Gull (Larus argentatus) and the Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull (L. fuscus) were to be seen on the coast, the Black-backed 

 species being also seen inland. On one occasion a Gull (I was too far 

 away to identify the species) was observed to carry something up and 

 drop it, no doubt in order to break the covering and get at the contents, 

 after the manner of the Hooded Crow. 



Single Great Black-backed Gulls (L. marinus) were often to be seen 

 sitting solitarily on the edge of the sand, and were very shy and hard 

 to approach. 



The Great Skua (Megalestris catarrhactes) was noticed on several 

 occasions ; the sound of firing usually attracted them. No doubt they 

 came in the hope of making a meal off a wounded bird. 



The Black Guillemot (Uria grylle) was only seen on one occasion. 

 The sea was very rough, and it was doubtless stress of weather that 

 had driven these lively little birds inshore. There were about a dozen 

 of them. 



The Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis) was not at all un- 

 common, one or two birds of this species being always in the bay. The 

 Irish called them "Loons " or "Looms." — Eric B. Dunlop (The Howe, 

 Troutbeck, Windermere). 



