1905- USSHEJR. — Birds met with 071 Cormau^ht Lakes* 129 



Lord Ardilauii has given me to understand that after each 

 spell of severe weather, which drives the cock in from the 

 hills, a smaller number leave the coverts ; and thus more birds 

 may be met with in the end of January than at an earlier 

 period of the winter. Some breed at Ashford, and these 

 appear to be increasing, for in the spring of 1902 for the first 

 time a considerable number nested in a valley in the hills. 

 These do not as yet approach the numbers that nest in Co. 

 Wicklow, but as our summer Woodcocks have been steadily 

 on the increase since the first notice in 1833 (Thompson) there 

 can be little doubt that Connaught woods are destined to be 

 more largely used as breeding-quarters. 



Among the species that are extending their breeding-range 

 in this country is the Shoveler, whose nest has been repeatedly 

 taken of late j^ears on Lough Conn ; and though I have not 

 yet learned that the Tufted Duck frequents that lake, and 

 those to the south of it, in summer, this bird has become so 

 numerous on the Co. Sligo lakes in the breeding-time that its 

 presence at that season further west ma}^ be looked for. 



The lakes of Sligo and Roscommon form a group rich in 

 bird-life ; they comprise Loughs Gill, Arrow*, Key, and Gara, 

 some of which have shores and islands adorned with natural 

 wood, and afiford some of the most beautiful lake-scenes in 

 Ireland. 



The Whinchat, though not a lake-bird, frequents the boggy 

 lands in the neighbourhood of these lakes and the marshy 

 hollows towards Ballymote, being probably more numerous 

 in that district than elsewhere in Ireland. It seems to be 

 absent from the greater part of Munster and Leinster. 



The range of the Garden-Warbler includes the wooded 

 shores and islands of Lough Arrow and Lough Ke}^, and I 

 have met with it in song in successive seasons in the same 

 haunts. 



The Blackcap has also been identified by its song in 

 Rockingham woods b}^ Mr. Ellison and myself 



Siskins were seen and heard b}' us in June among 

 the lofty fir4rees in the demesnes of Hazlewood, Markree, 

 and Rockingham. We met with them in family parties, and 

 they evidently breed there, as well as Crossbills, which were 

 observed at the same seasons at Hazlewood and Markree. 



A3 



