June, 1902. 125 



A UST OF BIRDS OBSERVED WEST OF DINGI.E, 



CO. KERRY. 



BY PROFESSOR CHARI.ES J. PATTKN, B.A., M.D, 



(Pirate i.) . 



The district which extends west of Dingle constitutes part of 

 the most northerly of the large projecting peninsulas which 

 so well characterize the western and south-western sea-boards 

 of Kerry. 



This stretch of country is chiefly maritime. Its coast is 

 rendered highly irregular by the presence of smaller head- 

 lands and inlets of the sea. The interior of the country is 

 made up of rugged, unreclaimed land, with but scanty foliage 

 and timber, and traversed bj^ hills of remarkably varying 

 altitudes. Of the headlands, Brandon, Sybil, and Dunmore 

 are perhaps the most prominent. Here the cliffs are high, 

 precipitous, and in parts of a cavernous nature, thereby 

 affording shelter and natural habitat to the many species of 

 birds which are wont to frequent such places. The swift- 

 flying Rockdove is the principal tenant of the caverns, often 

 finding in them a haven when sorely harassed by the pursuits 

 of its dreaded foe, the Peregrine Falcon. Although bleak 

 and stupendous, the cliffs, on the whole, are not void of 

 vegetation. Here and there rocks jut out, covered with 

 grasses and other maritime plants. These carpeted ledges 

 are the favourite resting places of the Choughs, large numbers 

 congregating there, especially when they return at night- 

 fall to roost.' The entertaining movements of these birds 

 have afforded me many an hour's pleasant observation. I 

 have frequently seen the young Chough fly into fissures and 

 caves, probably back to the nest where it had but recently 

 been reared. I was late for the breeding season, but found 

 that many of the fully fledged young birds were so confiding 

 as to allow me to approach quite near to them. 



1 Many Choughs, however, do not remain on the ledges, but seek 

 shelter for the night in rock- fissures and caverns. 



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