i897-] UsSHER. — Distribution of Birds Breedi7ig in Ireland. 73 

 X. — Five Species concerning whose breeding in Ireland 



WE HAVE NOW LITTLE OR NO EVIDENCE. 



The Buzzard, which Thompson recorded as breeding in four 

 northern counties, seems to have been quite exterminated 

 since his time. 



In 1894 the Woodlark was found breeding in Co. Wicklow 

 {Irish Nat., 1894, p. 137). It may still linger in Northern 

 Cork, but though formerly well known it seems to have been 

 almost exterminated by bird-catchers. 



The Carrion Crow's rarity in Ireland has been on record 

 since the time of King John. Since Thompson noted its 

 former occurrence in Antrim, Lord Castletown has known of 

 it in the Queen's County, and Mr. Corbet has shot both old 

 and young near Queenstown Harbour, and others mention it 

 from Mayo, but the most satisfactory instance occurred in 

 Kerry in 1864, when Mr. J. R. Hardy obtained eggs and a 

 specimen of the bird which he has presented to the Science 

 and Art Museum, Dublin. 



The Turtle-Dove is stated by Thompson to have bred once 

 in Down and once in Kerry. A female with eggs in her ovary 

 was shot in Co. Dublin ; but though this species appears 

 in certain localities almost regularly in ones and twos, it 

 disappears again without being known to breed. 



The Roseate Tern is recorded by Thompson to have bred 

 in Down, Dublin, and Wexford, but at the present day no 

 breeding-place of this species in Ireland is known. 



The Bittern has been omitted from these lists, as the last 

 instance of its breeding in Ireland, recorded by Thompson, 

 took place over fifty years ago. 



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