PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 95 



MARCH 4, 1854. 

 R. Ball, LL.D., President, in the chair. 



The Librarian having acknowledged the following donations — viz., Scottish 

 Fauna, 2 vols., by Josh. H. Lamprey, Esq. ; and the Natural History Review, 

 for January, 1854, by A. R. Hogan, Esq. — 



The President stated that an addition to the Museum, consisting of a room of 

 large dimensions, was nearly completed, and he hoped in a few months to display 

 therein the fine collection of native marine zoology now in the possession of the 

 University. He also mentioned that the Board, kindly complying with his request, 

 had attached two additional rooms to the Museum ; in these rooms the business of 

 the association will be conducted in future. 



Mr. E. P. Wright then read the following : — 



NOTES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF RARE BIRDS IN IRELAND, FROM FEBRUARY, 

 1853, tO FEBRUARY, 1854. 



The late Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, had a number of individuals scattered through- 

 out the length and breadth of Ireland, who communicated to him, from time to 

 time, their observations and discoveries in Ornithology. The first appearance of the 

 swallow — the first note of the cuckoo, and other summer visitants — the first discord- 

 ant croak of the land rail, wer.. all noted by them, and forwarded, with willing 

 hand, to one whose " History of Irish Birds," was a fit place to deposit such 

 information. 



Surely, the publication of his work, or his own untimely death, should not hinder 

 the still quiet accumulation of interesting facts in this branch of Zoology. 



It is one of the objects of this Association to investigate the Zoology of Ireland ; 

 and one great means of doing this would be attained, if we could prevail on some of 

 our distinguished corresponding members to make our transactions the rich store- 

 house of such facts. 



I have put into scientific order the following note^ of the occurrence of some of 

 our rarer birds, which have either been communicated tome, as one of the Hono- 

 rary Secretaries of this Association, been exhibited at our meetings, or have fallen, 

 under my own observations. I did this with the impression that single, uncon- 

 nected facts are much more easily lost sight of than when they receive strength by 

 addition to their numbers. I hope that, on the next occasion I may have the plea- 

 sure of doing so, I shall, through the kindness of our members, be able to increase 

 my list fourfold. In order to show the distribution of the various species enume- 

 rated, I have quoted the first line from Thompson. In cases where the bird was 

 exhibited at any of the meetings of the Association, I have mentioned so. 



Falco oesalon (the Merlin). A specimen of this bird was forwarded to Dr. Ball, 

 by Mr. Nicholson, of Balrath, county Kclls, shot, eating a snipe. It was exhibited 

 at one of our meetings. Mr. Davir, in one of his letters, says — u That he saw, in 

 the hands of a person in Clonmel, a fine specimen of the common buzzard (Buteo vul- 

 garis), but on tracing it to the death, found it had come from Wales, in the flesh. I 

 mention this as an instance of how much care is required in receiving specimens 

 from the preservers, lest we should add to our fauna, through their importations. 



Scops aldrovandi (Scops-eared Owl), has been, at least, twice obtained in Ire- 

 land. Mr. T. W. Warren informs me that he has a specimen of this owl, shot in 

 Hillsborough, by the Marquis of Downshire's gamekeeper, about March, 1853 



Stryx brachyotus (the Short-eared Owl). This owl can only be announced with 

 certainty, as a regular winter visitant. — Thompson. A living specimen was ob- 

 tained by Dr. Ball, for the Zoological Gardens, Phoenix Park, in the month of 

 February, 1853. 



Phcenicura ruticilla (the Red Start), can only be noticed as a very rare visi- 

 tant to Ireland. Mr. Davis informs me, that a specimen of the male red start has 

 been procured at Waterford. It, or a similar bird, had occasionally been noticed 

 in the yard attached to the house of T. J. Walpole, Esq., of that city, during the 

 summer of 1852, and, on making its appearance in the early part of last year, was 

 shot, by his brother, on the 27th of February, 1853. 



