i9oi« Notes. 231 



Rare Irish Birds in the National Museum. 



Several of the unique or very rare specimens of Irish Birds hitherto in 

 the Trinity College Museum of Natural History have now been de- 

 posited in the National Museum of Science and Art, where they are ex- 

 hibited in the Collection of Irish Birds. 



The birds referred to and their history are probably known to most 

 of the Irish ornithologists, but it may interest those who will now see 

 them for the first time to learn something more about them. 



They are four in number, as follows ; — 



1. The Griffon Vui/TURE {Gyps fulvus) was caught alive in the 

 autumn of 1843 on the rocks near Cork Harbour. This specimen is 

 the only example of the Griffon Vulture which has ever been taken 

 in the British Islands. Its nearest habitat to Ireland are the 

 Pyrenees and the mountainous part of the Spanish Peninsula. 



2. The Spotted EAGivE {Aquila maculatd), shot near Youghal, Co. 

 Cork, in January, 1845, is the only Irish specimen which has been 

 preserved. It has occurred three or four times only in the British 

 Islands. 



3. The American YEIvEOW-bieeED Cuckoo (Coayzus americanus) 

 shot at Youghal, Co. Cork, in 1825, is the first specimen obtained 

 in Ireland. Another has since been secured, and is now preserved 

 in the Queen's College Museum at Cork. It also has occurred 

 several times in the British Islands. 



4. The Bei/TED Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyoii) shot at Annsbrook, Co. 

 Meath, in the autumn 1845, also an American [species. Only one 

 other Irish specimen of this bird has been obtained, and both are 

 now in the National Museum. As no other instances of the occur- 

 rence of the Belted Kingfisher are known in Europe, it is generally 

 supposed that these have escaped from confinement. 



Red-throated Pipit in Co. Mayo. 



I learn that the Pipit described by Mr. F. Coburn {Zoologist, 1901, p. 264) 

 as having been shot by him on 26th May, 1895, in Co. Mayo, has been 

 examined by Messrs. Howard Saunders, Bowdler Sharpe, and Ogilvie 

 Grant, and that it is a true specimen of Anthns cervinns. I understand 

 that it is otherwise with regard to the Co. Donegal specimen, concerning 

 which Mr. Coburn will doubtless publish further information. 



R.J. USSHER. 

 Cappagh, Co. Waterford. 



Foxes in Co. Donegal. 



I am informed by Henry Musgrave, Esq., that this year Foxes have 

 been remarkably numerous in S.W. Donegal, and interfered largely with 

 shooting. On his estate alone between thirty and forty Foxes were 

 trapped or shot in four weeks this autumn, and he heard of ten other 



