232 The Irish Naturalist. October, 1899. 



Montagu's Harriet* In Co. Wexford. 



On the 14th of August two specimens of Montagu's Harrier {Circus 



Montagui) were trapped on the property of Sir Thomas Gratton-Esmonde, 



M.P., Ballinastragh, Gorey, Co. Wexford. The birds were male and 



female birds of the year evidently the one brood, and their occurrence so 



early in the season as August raises the very interesting question as to the 



possibility of their being bred in Ireland. A curious circumstance in 



connection with the appearance of this bird is that all the specimens, I 



think seven in number, taken in Ireland have been captured between 



Wexford and Dublin. 



E. Wl 1,1,1AM S. 

 Dublin. 



GEOLOGY. 



The Granites of Tyrone and Derry. 



In a recent paper {Q.J. Geo/. Soc. t vol. lv., 1899, pp. 273-6,) Professor G. 

 A. J. Cole discusses the age of the granite of eastern Tyrone with 

 reference to the similar rock at the base of Slieve Gallion {Trans. R. D. S., 

 vol. vi., 1897, p. 243). The Surveyors regarded this granite as intrusive 

 in the Old Red Sandstone, but as pre-Carboniferous. But the exami- 

 nation of a new section has convinced Professor Cole that the sandstone 

 is derived in large part from the granite, fragments of the latter being 

 scattered through the former rock. The granite must therefore be 

 pre-Devonian, but is possibly post-Silurian, like so many masses through- 

 out Ireland. 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



Royal Zoological Society. 



Recent gifts include a Cockatoo from Sir Thornley Stoker, a pair of 

 Swans from Lord Castlestewart, a Hare from Mr. R. E. Nulty, Seals from 

 Mr. T. D. Pile and Mr. Petrie, a Goose from Mr. W. E. Peebles, a Canary 

 from Mr. F. W. Powell, a Black-headed Gull from Dr. C. J. Patten, a 

 Flying Phalanger from Miss Reynardson, five Ichneumons from Mr. 

 W. H. Godwin, a Heron Mr. W. W. Despard, a pair of Swans from Mr. 

 Justice Madden, a King Parrot from Sir T. Brady, a Chameleon from Mrs. 

 Wilson, and three Gulls and a Jackdaw from Sergeant M'Goldrick. A 

 Gibbon, a pair ofChacma Baboons, a Polecat, an Otter, a Leopard, an 

 Indian Antelope, a pair of Axis Deer, a pair of Emus, and Cockatoo have 

 been bought. 



