158 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



vulgaris) is not recorded as occurring in the North of Ireland, 

 but I saw it twice in Drumonaghan wood in 1875. I have heard 

 that Lord George Hill of Ballyarr kept some in confinement 

 some time ago, and it may be that those I saw were " escapes" 

 from his place, but I have not been able to confirm the truth 

 of this. 



We have the Stoat {Mustela ermmea), and also a smaller 

 member of the genus, lighter in colour, and with no black tuft 

 on the end of the tail. A specimen of the latter will be 

 submitted to the Society shortly, to determine whether it is the 

 M. vulgaris or not. 



The Pine Marten (Maries abietum) is sometimes spoken of as the 

 "Ferret," and is seen now and again. Mr Samuel Stewart of the 

 Eooghan followed one for a considerable distance not long ago, 

 but had no means of capturing it. He says they are in the habit 

 of taking possession of nests abandoned by the Magpie. He saw, 

 he informs me, a pair of Badgers (Meles taxus) in the gap of 

 Barnes — a rocky pass, ten miles from this — and one at Lough 

 Salt, about the same distance in a more easterly direction. 



It seems to be true, so far as my experience goes, that there are 

 no moles, toads, nor snakes in Ireland. 



Captain Pepper, now of Castlebar, informs me that he got 

 specimens of the old British or Black Rat {Mus rattus) in an 

 island in Mulroy bay, about four miles from Eamelton. I 

 purpose endeavouring to confirm this during the summer. 



Donegal can give a good account of birds, from the lordly 

 Eagle downwards. The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) has been 

 shot often; one was captured alive near Dunfanagby, and is now 

 in the possession of Mr Alford of Falcaragh. Mr Hill of Eamel- 

 ton has had a Peregrine Falcon (Falco i)eregrinus) in a cage for 

 many months, and it seems hearty and contented; the Merlin 

 (Falco aesalon) I have been able to keep living for four months in 

 confinement, feeding it on raw beef, and some of my neighbours 

 have succeeded in making tolerable j^cts of the Barn Owl 

 {Strix flammea), and of another species which agreed best with 

 the description of the Tawny Owl (Sgrnium aluco) ; it was neither 

 the Barn Owl nor the Long-eared Owl. The Eaven (Corvus corax) 

 builds near Malinhcad, and an occasional pair of these birds are 

 seen at Innistrahull and the coast round about. Some years ago 

 they were frequent visitors here, and Mr Eobert Greer of Aughnish 



