iS97-] Standen. — Fauna of Rathiiri Island and Bally castle, tys 



better method of attaining a correct knowledge of the smaller 

 mammalia inhabiting a given locality, than is afforded by a 

 careful examination of the bones and skulls they contain. 

 The skulls are generally in a fairly perfect condition, and are 

 always easily identifiable by a competent osteologist. All the 

 " pellets " we collected have been minutely examined by Mr. 

 Lionel E. Adams. They numbered 225, and the following is 

 his analysis of the species represented in them : — L,esser Shrew, 

 10 ; Brown Rat, 22 ; House Mouse, 5 ; Long-tailed Field 

 Mouse, 357 ; Bats, 3 ; Blackbirds or Thrushes, 5 ; Sparrows, 7 ; 

 other small birds, 21. In 6 pellets were the remains of a 

 beetle {Geotrupes stercorarms). The district is a good one 

 for birds, and the excessive tameness of many kinds was 

 a striking and notable feature. This may, perhaps, 

 be accounted for from their not being persecuted by boys to 

 the same extent as in England. Enquiries from boys we met 

 as to whether they knew of any nests, invariably elicited the 

 remark, *' We don't mind them." The nests of the Magpie 

 were very numerous, and formed a conspicuous feature of the 

 landscape. They were usually placed in quite low trees close 

 by the cottages, and the country folk apparently never molest 

 them, perhaps from a superstitious motive. A Cuckoo calmly 

 sat on a roadside wall whilst our car drove past within a few 

 feet of it ; Thrushes and other small birds did the same. A 

 Blackbird sitting on its nest allowed me to stroke its back, 

 without showing the least alarm, and I had my hand within a 

 foot of a Long-eared Owl, perched in a low fir-tree, before it 

 deigned to flutter off into an adjoining bush. Many species 

 were observed breeding. The Sparrow-hawk, Kestrel, and 

 Long-eared Owl were common, and we came across several 

 pairs of the latter nesting in the pine woods. We were 

 informed that the Peregrine was nesting on Tor Head, and 

 saw one of these splendid falcons fly from that direction and 

 glide along the rocks at Murlough, where it swooped down 

 upon and carried off" a young Rook from a low tree. The 

 Grey Crow and Jackdaw were plentiful. We found the well- 

 hidden nest of the Wheatear under a heap of stones on Rathlin, 

 and the Stonechat, Whinchat, Rock-Pipit, Twite, and Reed- 

 Bunting, were all plentiful. The Chiff"cha£F and many other 

 warblers abound. We found the beautiful nest of the Gold- 



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