ON THE FAUNA OF IRELAND. 355 
Our moist and rich meadows draw hither in spring more 
Land-Rails (Crex pratensis) than are generally to be found 
in the meadows of England and Scotland ; but in the case of 
this bird, the far-western position of Ireland should perhaps be 
considered, as in Portugal the species is about equally 
abundant. 
Mammalia.—It is so extremely difficult to procure the greater 
number of the animals of this class, that some, especially of 
the smaller species, are doubtless yet to be discovered; as 
known at present, they appear to fall short of those of Great 
Britain in an extraordinary degree. In the Cheiroptera, or 
Bats, we seem to be remarkably deficient, but time must add 
more species to our list. In the genus Mus there is a species 
—the M. hibernicus—as yet unknown elsewhere. The Squirrel 
(Sciurus vulgaris) and Dermouse (Myoxus avellanarius) are 
desiderata: of the genus Arvicola I have not seen an Irish 
example. In Lepus, the place of L. timidus and L. varia- 
bilis is supplied by L. hibernicus, as yet known only to Ireland. 
In Mustela, the Polecat (M. Putorius) is unknown to me; and 
if M. vulgaris be indigenous, it is much more rare than M. 
erminea, which prevails from north to south. Of Felis Catus, 
as an Irish animal, positive information is yet wanted. The 
Talpa europea we certainly have not, though in Great Britain 
mole-hills may be observed close to the sea-side at some of 
the nearest points of land to Ireland, as at Holyhead in 
Wales, and Portpatrick in Scotland. The Soreces at present 
known are but two in number. 
Ireland possesses as many Bérds as from her geographical 
position might be anticipated. The species which appear in 
the catalogue of Great Britain and not in that of Ireland, are 
chiefly occasional visitants, many of which have no doubt ex- 
tended their flight hither, although they have not come under 
the cognizance of the naturalist. This refers chiefly to strag- 
-glers or single birds; the species which come in flights to 
Great Britain generally extend their migration to Ireland also. 
In the class Reptilia nothing particular need be remarked, 
except the well-known fact of the absence of Ophidian Rep- _ 
tiles from the island. 
In Amphibia we have not the Toad (Bufo vulgaris) ; the 
Frog (Rana temporaria) is stated to have been introduced ; 
the Natterjack (Bufo Calamita) is believed to be truly indi- 
genous to Kerry. 
The coast of Ireland offers nothing very remarkable in 
Fishes. 'The families having a place in the British catalogue 
and in which the Irish is particularly deficient, are Percide, 
2a2 
