1G2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



now of late again by the L*' deputy Sir Harry Sydney, which 

 for want of means for safe conduct upon the water it hath not 

 prevailed." 



This district is rich in paleolithic remains. Three miles hence, 

 near to Milford, are two cromlechs; on a hill in the townland 

 of Gortnavern, overlooking Kerrykeel, is an excellent example, 

 spoken of by the country people as "the giant stones;" near 

 Cranford, six miles away, there are three cromlechs ; half a mile 

 from Gortahork is another, which I stumbled on quite by accident. 

 Their general character is the same throughout. On two, or 

 sometimes three, large boulders rests a massive slab, often four 

 or five tons in weight, but generally of the same geological 

 character as the smaller supporting stones, whether grey granite 

 or gneiss. It is difficult to conceive how these early people 

 lifted and placed such ponderous stones, and difficult, too, to 

 determine the purpose to which they were devoted. In some 

 cases fragments of what appeared to be a funeral urn was found 

 in the soil adjacent, which would indicate that the cromlechs 

 were intended to mark the last resting place for the ashes of 

 some hero, but they probably were also used for sacrifice as 

 altar stones. I hope to return to the more minute discussion 

 of some of the subjects referred to in this general sketch at 

 some future time. 



I. — The Birds of County Donegal.* 



(Some on the authority of Mr Hill of Ramelton), 



Golden Eagle, . . . Aquila chrysaetus (Linnaeus). Captured near 



Dunfanaghy. 

 Peregrine Falcon, . . Falco peregrinus, Gmelin. Captured near 



Creeslough. 

 Kestrel, .... Falco tinnunculus, Lin. Woods at Eamelton. 

 Merlin, .... Falco acsalon, Gmelin. Chiragh. 

 Sparrow Hawk, . . Accipter nisus (Linnaeus). Moyle Hill. 

 White or Barn Owl, . Strix flammea, Linnaeus. 

 Tawny Owl, . . . Syrinum aluco (Linnaeus). 

 Pied Flycatcher, . . Muscicapa atricapilla, Linnaeus. 

 Dipper, .... Cinclus aqiiaticuSj Bechstein. Common on 



river Leannan. 



* The nomenclature followed is that of Harting's Handbook of British Birds, 

 London, 1872. 



