1922. SCHARFF. — Is the Squirrel a Xaiive Irish Species ? 51 

 IS THE SQUIRREL A NATIVE IRISH SPECIES ? 



BY R. F. SCHARFF, B.SC, PH.D. 



This question was very fully discussed by the late R. M. 

 Barrington/ and since he came to the conclusion that the 

 Squirrel was not indigenous to this country, a re-examina- 

 tion of this animal's claim? to be included among Irish 

 natives seemed unnecessary. But the discovery of further 

 historical data concerning the presence of the Squirrel in 

 Ireland many centuries ago throw doubts on the correct- 

 ness of Mr. Barrington's assumptions. In justice to the 

 views of this distinguished Irish naturalist it should be 

 mentioned that when he wrote the paper referred to he did 

 not regard the question as finally settled and the matter 

 has never been discussed in the pages of this magazine. 



Mr. Barrington traced the origin of the Squirrel in Ireland 

 to ten centres of introduction. His remarks were illus- 

 trated by a map on which these centres are indicated and 

 from which he claimed that the species had spread to other 

 parts of the country. We must take it for granted that 

 between the years 1815 and 1875 Squirrels were actually 

 introduced into Ireland from England and liberated in 

 those centres. Mr. Barrington adds that if the Squirrel 

 had already existed in Ireland at the time, there would 

 have been no need or object in introducing it. That sounds 

 common sense, and yet it is just the people that thought- 

 lessly introduce animals where they think they do not 

 exist, who frequently are ignorant of the fauna of the 

 country they live in. 



Now as regards the County Wicklow, Mr. Barrington 

 referred to the story which he had from Mr. Synge of Ash- 

 ford that the latter's grandfather had brought a pair of 

 Squirrels to the country between the years 18 15 and 1825, 

 and that this was the first introduction of the animal into 

 Ireland. Mr. Barrington then related what a surprise the 



1 Barrington, R. M. — " On the introduction of the Squirrel into 

 Ireland." Sci. Proc. R. Dublin Society, vol. ii., 1880, pp. 614-31. 



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