1924. RuTTLEDGE — Note on the Distribution of the Squirrel. 73 



NOTE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF IHE SQUIRREL 



IN IRELAND. 



BY ROBERT F. RUTTLEDGE. 



A CERTAIN amount was written concerning whether or 

 not the Squirrel is a native Irish species, in the Irish 

 Naturalist for 1922. I am not quahlied to enter into a 

 discussion on that subject, but I should like to add what 

 information I can with regard to its distribution in Ireland. 



I noted, when reading one paper on the subject, that 

 evidence of the Squirrel's occurrence in seven Irish counties 

 appeared to be lacking. An observer shortly afterwards 

 gave evidence of its occurrence in Co. Cork, thus lessening 

 the number of counties in which there was no knowledge 

 of its existence, to six. 



I have evidence of its occurrence in both Limerick 

 and Mayo. In the case of Limerick I have made no 

 personal observations, but on reading the statement in 

 the Irish Naturalist I wrote and enquired about Squirrels 

 in that county, and received a reply that they existed 

 in the more wooded parts of the county and had been 

 there for many years. As regards Mayo, I have my own 

 observations to go on as well as some notes which I made 

 in 1916 as a result of my enquiries regarding its distribution 

 in this county. 



I had no idea, until 1922, that the Squirrel had never 

 been reported from Co. Mayo. Here in south Mayo it 

 is very common and at certain seasons constitutes a pest. 



Some years they are more plentiful than others — thus 

 in 1917 I noted their apparent scarcity, and again in 1918 

 they were particularly numerous. Squirrels breed plenti- 

 fully throughout south Mayo. 



Answers to my enquiries showed that Squirrels appeared 

 hrst, according to one informant, on the southern borders 

 of Mayo in 1883, but did not become plentiful there until 

 many years later. 



About 1896 they appeared at Cloonee on the shores 

 of Lough Carra, and shortly after that were faii'ly well 

 distributed throughout south Mayo. 



