Hints for hnprovemenU,^ 395: 



{Falco peregrJnus). Breeds on the Gobbin Rocks, in Island Magee, County 

 Antrim. — * Cinereous Shrike (Lanius excubitor). Shot near Belfast in 

 Nov. 1826, after a severe snow storm. It is the first specimen, I believe, 

 noticed in the northern part of our island. — *Jay (Corvus glandarius). 

 Thoiigh so common in England, it is but seldom met with in Ireland, and 

 then only in the southern counties. — Waxen Chatterer (yi''mpelis garrulus). 

 A beautiful male was shot in the neighbourhood of Dublin, in January 1829. 

 ^ Hoopoe (C/^pupa £^pops). One specimen was shot in the County Dub- 

 lin, and another in the County Tipperary, in 1828. — Crossbill (Loxia cur- 

 virostra). A few birds of this species were shot in the County Dublin in 

 Dec. 1828. — * Grosbeak (Loxia C'occothraustes). Several were shot near 

 Dublin in Nov. 1828. — Siskin (i^ringilla spinus). Frequently shot in the 

 County Wicklow. — Great Plover (Charadrius (Edicnemus). One specimen 

 was shot on the sea shore near Dublin, on 27th January 1829. It seemed 

 to have undergone a long journey, and was very much emaciated. — Water 

 Crake (Rallus Porzdna). Has been shot once or twice near Belfast, and 

 also in the County Wicklow. — Red Godwit (/S'colopax lapponica). I ob- 

 served three birds of this species in Belfast Lough, on June 12. 1828, but 

 they were so shy as not to be approached within gunshot. — * Greenshank 

 (iS'colopax Glottis). Two or three specimens are annually shot in Septem- 

 ber, near Belfast. — * Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos). Breeds 

 near Belfast. — * Spotted Sandpiper (Tringa macularia). One specimen 

 was shot near Belfast in July 1828, and another in September. — * Grey 

 Phalarope (Tringa lobata). Two specimens of this rare bird were shot near 

 Dublin in the spring of 1828. — * Arctic Tern (Sterna arctica). Shot on one 

 of the Copeland Islands, at the entrance to Belfast harbour, in July 1828. — 

 * Roseate Tern (Sterna Dougalii Montagu). Shot on the same island. 

 Numbers of eggs of (it is supposed) the two foregoing species of tern were 

 found on the rocks. The principal food of these birds was herring fry 

 The common tern was likewise very numerous on the island. — Stormy 

 Petrel (Procellaria pelagica). This specimen was found the day after a se- 

 vere storm, seven miles inland from Belfast, in 1827. — Wild Swan (^'nas 

 Cygnus ferus). Shot near Dublin in the winter of 1828-9. — Golden Oriole 

 (Oriolus Galbula). A specimen of this bird was seen, some winters ago, a 

 few miles from Belfast"; and another specimen was shot since. —Common 

 Bee-eater (iWerops Apiaster). One specimen was killed in the County 

 Wicklow a few years ago. — RufF (Tringa pugnax). A female of this bird 

 (a reeve) was killed in 1827 near Belfast. — * Northern Diver (Colymbus 

 glacialis). Three or four specimens of this bird were shot in Dec. 1828, 

 near Dublin. I procured two, both young birds, but of different ages ; on 

 one of them the white spots on the back were becoming distinct ; the other 

 entirely wanted them. It is occasionally shot in Belfast harbour, but only 

 in severe winters. — J. D. M, Belfast, July 18. 1829. 



A RT. IX. Hints for Improvements • 



A Natural Histoty Society, (p. 286.) — Such would bring together many, 

 who, like myself, are ardent admirers of nature, but who want to acquire 

 some /?mc^ka/ knowledge of those scientific arrangements which tend to pro- 

 mote clear views of the various departments. The works, too, which are pub- 

 lished, though not dear as respects their merit, are yet, in many instances, 

 too expensive for individuals like myself, but who could afford a guinea or 

 two for such an object as the one proposed. Though one of the earliest 

 promoters and supporters of two or three institutions now flourishing, my 



*The birds marked with a star are at present in my possession. — ./. D. M, 



D D 2 



