were afraid to follow them, and my boat lying under several feet of snow I was unable to launch her in time to secure them. On the 30th of the same month a flock of twenty were seen flying up the river, closely followed by five more. In January, 1867, I remarked a solitary bird on the river, and heard others calling as they passed overhead in a thick fog. On the 27th December, 1870, a large flock of between thirty and forty birds were seen resting in the channel near Scurmore; they remained until about three o'clock, when they all rose from the water and flew across the country in the direction of Lough Conn, and on the following morning about ten o'clock a flock of thirty, coming from the north-east, were seen flying in the same direction. On December 4th, 1871, I observed twenty birds in the estuary near Ballysokeery. I followed them in my punt, but was unable to get within range, owing to the wariness of the largest bird in the flock. This bird when he saw the boat began to call, and then, closely accompanied by two cygnets, swam off, followed by the others; but wherever he went the two cygnets kept quite close and never attempted to follow any others of the flock, the large bird very probably being the parent of the cygnets. I cannot feel certain whether the swans seen are the great Wild Swan or Bewick's, but from their call-note and size I am inclined to think them the latter species, the call-notes I have heard more resembling the words "awe, awe, awe" than the "whoo—whoo—whoop" of the Whooper.[1]
Bean Goose, Anser segetum.—A regular winter visitant, but met with in much smaller numbers than the next species, which is the most numerous of all the inland-feeding geese in this district.
White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons.—Very common in suitable localities. I have seen them as early as the 29th September and as late as the 25th April, and have been told of their remaining up to May 1st. All through the winter several flocks pass over this place twice daily to and from their feeding grounds. They generally rest by day on the wide expanse of flat bog lying at the foot of the Ox Mountains, County Sligo, and just before dusk cross over into the County Mayo to feed about Rarooyeen Lake and the swampy lands near Mullifarry. I have only twice seen them on the tidal part of the river; but the great haunt for geese is near Foxford on the wide expanse of meadows along the River Moy.
- ↑ In Ireland Bewick's Swan is said to be much commoner than the Whooper, c.f. Thompson, 'Birds of Ireland, ' vol. iii. p. 17.—Ed.
