XV111 
PREFACE. 
as an extremely rare visitant to any part of the island ; this species 
would be affected by the absence of wood. The Bittern, on the 
other hand, affected by the draining of the bogs, has almost 
ceased to breed in Ireland, though it commonly did so through- 
out the island, until a late period. It now ranks as little more 
than an occasional winter visitant from more northern countries. 
The curlew, golden plover, lapwing, and others, have been driven 
from many of their breeding grounds by the drainage of the 
bogs ; as has the shell-drake from many rabbit -burrows, which 
are no Itmger retired, owing to the increase of population. This has 
likewise influenced the whimbrel to change its haunts around 
Belfast, where, until the last forty or fifty years, it regularly fre- 
quented the pastures, including the upland ones, during the few 
weeks of its sojourn when on migration northwards. Of late 
years, it has been seen only on the sea-shore : pastures and bogs 
seemed to be its favourite places of resort in spring. The total 
disappearance of the beautiful goldfinch and bullfinch from 
districts which they had regularly frequented, the varying in- 
crease and decrease of the swallow tribe, partridge, &c., will 
be found treated of under the species, as will the great in- 
crease and decrease of the black-headed gull at particular 
localities. 
It is not on the land only that changes have taken place. 
Wigeon, in consequence of being too much disturbed in Belfast 
bay, by increase of shipping, steam-vessels, &c., even by night- — 
their feeding time — have greatly diminished within the last 
twenty years. Previous to that period, they arrived here every 
evening at twilight, in vast numbers from Strangford lough, and 
after remaining to feed during the night, again retired every 
morning before daybreak, to the comparative quietude of its 
waters. Morning and evening, shooters took their station on the 
