Donegal, ^ 579 



and descriptions (in his British Birds) the most inexperienced 

 can have little difficulty in recognising any bird. I have 

 included between brackets those which I think have been 

 improperly considered distinct, accompanying them, in many 

 instances, with notes ; and I have less hesitation in advancing 

 these opinions, as I find nearly all of them are in unison with 

 those of Temminck, Montagu, and Edmonstone, though 

 formed before I had the pleasure and advantage of perusing 

 their writings. 



Explanation of Abbreviations. 

 re. resident. c. common. 



s. p. spring bird of passage. ra. rare, 



a. p. autumnal bird of passage. v. r. very rare, 



a. V. accidental visiter. 



Mamma^lia. 



Tespertilio auritus, Long-eared bat. Mus Rattus, Rat. 



wiurinus, Short-eared bat. ikfusculus, Mouse. 



Phoca vitulina. Seal. sylvaticus, Long-tailed field m. 



Canis Fulpes, Fox. araphibius, Water rat. 



Fe\\s Cattus, Wild cat. Lepus timidus, Hare. 

 ikfustela iutra, Otter. Cuniculus, Rabbit. 



ikfartes. Yellow-breasted marten. Black variety [Wild ?]. 



ermlnea, Stoat. Fox-coloured variety. 



vulgaris, Weasel . J5alae'na ikfysticetus,Common whale. 



r/'rsus ^eles, Badger. Physeter, Cachalot. * 



56rex Jraneus, Shrew mouse. Delphinus Phocae'na, Porpoise. 

 JErinaceus europaj^us. Hedgehog. 



AVes. 

 Rap dees. 

 Falco lanarius, Lanner, re, raf F. ^'salon. Merlin, a.p, c % 



peregrinus. Peregrine falcon, re, ra Pinnunculus, Kestrel, re, c 

 Subbuteo, Hobby, a.v, v.r Chrysae'etos,Goldeneagle,re,ra$ 



* In following the arrangement of Linnaeus in the class Mammalia, I 

 have been forced to place this animal under Physeter, from its teeth being 

 confined to the lower jaw, though it does not agree in any other respect 

 with the varieties mentioned under that head : in its general character and 

 appearance it much more nearly approaches i)elphinus ; and 1 am disposed 

 to consider it a non-descript of that genus. 



f Falco lanarius and peregrmus. Temminck adheres to the opinion, 

 that peregrinus and lanarius are distinct : they are both rare here, and I 

 have, therefore, had little opportunity of investigating as to their identity. 

 If they are the same, lanarius must be the mature bird, as I got three young 

 ones out of two different nests, full fledged, and very nearly in the perfect 

 plumage of peregrinus : they unfortunately died after a short time. 



% Falco ^'salon generally visits us the first week in October ; I have, 

 however, met with it occasionally in summer : the males, improperly called 

 Lithofalco, are generally more numerous than the females ; a circumstance 

 I am at a loss to account for. 



§ I have not yet been able to ascertain any of the ring-tailed eagles in 

 this county, though I have reason to think I have seen them : I can, there- 

 fore, as yet, give no opinion as to the identity of this and the golden 

 eagle. 



p p 2 



