PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 25 



a slight fringe to the interfemoral ; but it differs so much in other respects, that I 

 do not think it can be this bat, being much darker in the membranes and back and 

 ears, and lighter on the belly ; the fur, too, is of a different texture ; it is also 

 slightly smaller, and the tragus differs. In conclusion, I beg to lay before you a 

 local list of the distribution of the mammalia of part of Carlow, Kildare, and 

 Queen's County, for which I am indebted to the kindness of the same gentleman 

 who gave me the bats — F. Haughton, Esq. : — 



Pipistrelle — common, one, captured in 1853, in company with the next, at Le- 

 vitstown, county Kildare. Reddish-gray bat — nine, captured June, 1853, in Tan- 

 kardstown-bridge, Levitsiown, county Kildare — common, though, perhaps, local. 

 Hedgehog — common. Badger — Kilmarony woods, Queen's County, rare. Otters, 

 river Barrow — very common. Stoat — very common. Common fox — very common. 

 Long-tailed field-mouse — common ; Levitstown. Common mouse — very common. 

 Black rat — Carlow; single specimen killed. Norway rat — common everywhere. 

 Common marten — very rare ; last seen about ten years since at Bestfield, Carlow. A 

 skin obtained at Mount Leinster, county Carlow, eighteen years since, was sent to 

 the late Mr. Vigors, by S. Haughton, Esq. Irish, or varying hare — rather rare ; 

 Oakpark. Rabbit — common. Common squirrel — very rare ; existed formerly in 

 Pollerton, county Carlow, and said still to be found in Burton Hall woods. This 

 list, though containing but few rarities, i3 of importance, as all authentic local lists 

 are valuable. It contains but four rare animals — the squirrel, concerning which 

 many doubt its ever having been indigenous ; it is said, in Rutty's " History of 

 Dublin," to have been found in Luttrellstown woods, near this city ; and there is a 

 tradition that they used to be found near Clondalkin. The other three rarities 

 are — the marten, the black rat, and the badger, all of which, from various causes, 

 are becoming more and more rare in this country. There is one remarkable 

 omission in the list, the long-eared bat, which we might have expected to find. I 

 made myself particular inquiries about it, and could get no tidings of it ; so I sup- 

 pose it does not exist here. 



Mr. Williams and Mr. Montgomery said, that they were of opinion that 

 in the more remote districts these animals were still frequent. The badger, 

 Mr. Williams observed, was constantly met with in parts of Kerry ; and 

 Mr. Montgomery stated that in Mayo and Donegal both the badger and marten 

 were not scarce. 



Mr. Andrews said he could confirm Mr. Williams's statement that the badger 

 was not uncommon in parts of Kerry. In some of the lonely recesses of the natu- 

 ral woods, the marten was very frequent, and did much damage in destroying the 

 young of the game-birds of the country. Mr. Andrews had every reason to believe 

 that the true wild-cat was at one time well known in the Fiadhghleanna, or wild 

 glens of the western parts of Kerry, for the description he got of it was totally 

 different from that of the marten. The marten was called in Kerry M cat crann" (cat 

 of the wood), and the wild cat known as the " cat fiadhachd" (hunting cat). The 

 black rat, some years since, was very plentiful at a farm nearBallynunnery, County 

 Carlow. Mr. Andrews then read a paper on the Malacorynchus membranaceus. 

 This handsome species of duck was shot in the month of February last, on the east 

 side of Inch Island, Dingle Bay, in Castlemaine harbour, by a person who was in 

 the habit of looking for water-fowl. There had been previously severe gales 

 from the south-west, and he had noticed some birds which he considered were 

 teal, or the small brown widgeon. A flock of six birds were feeding in a 

 muddy creek, and firing among them, the present specimen was the only one 

 shot. He preserved the bird for Mr. Ross Townsend, who at once saw that 

 it was a species perfectly new to him, and very kindly forwarded it to me in June 

 last. Having submitted to you this addition to the ornithology of this country, I 

 am not so much surprised at this instance, from the notices already, and but 

 very recently, recorded, of many rare birds, such as the spotted eagle, Aquila 

 naevia, of eastern Europe and of Africa ; the bee-eater, Merops apiastur, &c. ; and 

 now, that the taste for the natural sciences is more widely diffusing, we may look 

 forward to and expect in the several branches equally interesting additions to our 

 fauna. 



Doctor Farran, the chairman, observed that such an addition to the ornithology 



