56 J. D. Marswauu on the Statistics and 
vering the invalids’ complaints, and making me acquainted with them. Had I wanted 
practice in my profession, Raghery offered me every facility. 
ZOOLOGY. 
The Zoology of Rathlin does not, so far as I am acquainted, offer anything novel, or 
afford any species not hitherto known as natives of Ireland. Placed at so short a 
distance from the mainland, it cannot be expected that the animals frequenting Rathlin 
should be found differing in any considerable degree from those found in the other 
parts of the country ; and the few remarks I have to offer on this part of the subject, 
will rather serve to mark the habitats of some of the species, than throw light on 
that interesting, though, hitherto, too neglected subject—the Natural History of 
Treland. 
The only quadrupeds on the island, with the exception of those which are domesti- 
cated, are the 
Common Hare. (Lepus timidus.) 
Norway Rat. (Mus decwmanus.) 
Common Mouse. (Mus musculus.) 
Surew Mouse. (Sorex araneus.) 
The Hare (Lepus timidus) is very rarely seen in Rathlin; and I was unable to 
procure a specimen, although anxious to examine whether it belonged to the British 
species, or to the variety lately discovered to be peculiar to Ireland. The total want 
of underwood, such as whins, broom, briar, or heath, must account for the scarcity of 
this animal. Dr. Barry states that the same reason, he is satisfied, operates in the Orkney 
Islands where the hare is now literally extinct, although in former times it must have 
been abundant, as it formed an object of the chase to the ancient Earls of Orkney. 
The Brown or Norwecian Rat. As Dr. Hamilton remarks, we might have ex- 
pected that the native black rat would have found an asylum in Raghery, although 
driven from the other parts of Ireland ; but here the brown rat only is found, having 
entirely usurped the place of its predecessor, It infests all the dwelling-houses, barns, 
and store-houses, on the island, and is here, as elsewhere, universally detested. 
The Mouse (Mus musculus) is found in and near all the houses on the island. I 
was unable to learn whether the field mouse is seen here, but 
The Surew Mouse (Sorex araneus) is found occasionally in the fields. 
LAND BIRDS. 
Crnzrzous Eacir. (Falco albicilla.) This eagle generally frequents the island 
during summer, and on some of the lofty headlands makes its eyrie. It is, however, 
—— Oe 
—— 
