Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus.—Very numerous, and increasing in numbers every year, causing great annoyance to farmers by eating the young turnip plants when they have assumed the rough leaf, just after escaping the ravages of the fly. In winter also, during frosty and snowy weather, they eat off the top leaves and expose the turnips to the full effects of the frost. In our fruit garden they are equally destructive, eating the entire crop of yellow gooseberries, none of which can be saved unless the bushes are netted. Last season, when the yellow ones were protected by nets, the Pigeons attacked the red gooseberries, and did a great amount of damage.
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia.—Very common round the bold rocky coasts, breeding in caves and holes.
Turtle Dove, Columba turtur.—Has only twice come under my notice here, namely, on August 27th and October 6th, 1862, upon each of which days I observed a solitary bird feeding in a stubblefield, and, as I saw no appearance of any crescent on the neck, I concluded they were young birds reared in the neighbourhood, probably among the young larch and fir plantations at Belleek.
Pheasant, Phasanius colchicus.—Has been introduced into this district by several gentlemen, and appears to thrive very well.
Partridge, Perdix cinerea.—Common, and of late years increasing in numbers.
Quail, Coturnix vulgaris.—Although resident, not common, and by no means so plentiful here as in the South of Ireland.
Red Grouse, Tetrao scoticus.—Common throughout the mountains and on extensive heathy tracts.
Order Grallatores.
Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis.—Resident and common, but thousands of migratory birds are added to the number of the home-bred birds every autumn, and throughout the winter large
- ↑ Continued from p. 242.
