174 The Irish Naturalist. September, 



Bird Notes from the Mourne Mountains. 



A Night-jar has been frequently observed flying about the lawn here 

 this summer. Last month, while staying at Glassdrummoud on the 

 coast, near Annalong, we saw one almost every evening fluttering round 

 the house, which stands on a high knoll overlooking the sea. I was told 

 these birds are frequently seen in the mountains there, and that their 

 nests are found in the bracken. 



Large birds of the hawk tribe also frequent the Mourne Mountains, 

 and on one occasion I was much struck by the fierce shrieking noise 

 made by the wings of one of them when striking down on its prey, close 

 to where we stood. No doubt such a sound would have a very terrifying 

 effect on the quarry, which in this case proved to be a carrier pigeon, 

 apparently killed by impact with the ground, as there was no visible 

 wound. Its pursuer (the larger of the two) was, no doubt, too much 

 taken up with the excitement of the chase to notice us till all was over, 

 when he quickl}- flew away, and we ate the pigeon. 



J. Brown. 



Longhurst, Dunmurry. 



Hawfinch near Londonderry. 



On 5th July I examined a male Hawfinch (Coccothrausles vulgaris), which 

 had been killed by Mr. Motherwell in his garden at Garshney Crossroads, 

 near Londonderry. 



D. C. Campbeee. 

 Londonderry. 



Night-jar near Belfast. 



What Mr. Workman writes in July number of the Irish Naturalist, as to 

 the Night-jar on Cave Hill is interesting. It seems to haunt the whole 

 range of hills to the north and west of Belfast. Thompson speaks of its 

 occurrence in Colin Glen, four miles west of the city. Crow Glen is three 

 miles north-west of Belfast, and here I heard the jarring song of this 

 bird only a few days ago, and should have got close enough to see it ha 

 not the clatter made by four heavy-footed bipeds scared it away. Two 

 miles north-east of this glen is Carr's Glen, where I have also listened to 

 the Night-jar, and I have heard two or three of them at the Knockagh 

 cliffs, some six miles further north. It must be on the increase here. 

 A century since, Templeton, who was a lover of birds, as of all nature, 

 considered it rare. Thompson, gave some few localities, and spoke of 

 it as not common. Perhaps it benefits by keeping late hours, and thus 

 evading the prowling nuisances with guns. 



S. A. Stewart. 

 Belfast. 



