Zoology. 1 5 1 



chiefly the district round Lough Neagh — but it is spreading 

 and increasing rapidly, having been frccjuently seen at White- 

 abbey and Carrickfergus. In Co. Down, though much less 

 numerous, it also seems to be increasing, and has been obtained 

 at Dromore, Bally waiter, and Castlewellan, and lately seen at 

 Hillsborough. (For details of the various introductions in 

 Ireland, see an interesting paper by R. M. Barrington in the 

 Scientific Proc. Royal Dublin Society, May i8So.) 



The Black Rat (Mus rattus) seems to be now quite extinct 

 as a native. Thompson records specimens from Port- 

 glenone and Glenravel, Co. Antrim, about 1840 and 1842, 

 and others were reported from Glenarm. Genuine examples 

 of AIus rattus have been from time to time taken in Belfast, 

 but have probably been brought over in ships. For example, 

 when a crate containing a consignment of cage rat-traps was 

 opened in a local ironmonger's, a living Mus rattus was found 

 in one of the traps. The variety known as Mus alexaftd?-inus 

 has been taken in corn-ships at Belfast ; and specimens 

 dated 1855 and 1856 are in the Belfast Museum. The 

 Brown Rat (Mus decumanus) is common everywhere, and 

 only too well known. The rat described by Thompson as 

 Mus hibernicus is now recognised as a dark variety of AIus 

 decumanus. (See Zoologist, 189 1, p. i.) It has been taken 

 many times in the district and in both counties. The 

 House Mouse (AIus musculus) is everywhere abundant. 

 The Wood- Mouse, or Long-tailed Field-Mouse (Mus sylva- 

 ticus) is also commonly found. So far as is known, the dark 

 variety (the Mus sylvatiois celticus of Barrett-Hamilton) has 

 not yet been found on our northern mountains. 



The Irish form of Lepus timidus, the Variable or Mountain 

 Hare, is common in suitable places, sometimes in large 

 numbers (e.g., in 1880 over fourteen hundred were killed 

 on one estate in Co. Antrim, but this was exceptional). 

 In severe winters many will turn wholly or partially white, 

 but milder weather will keep them the usual colour. White 

 hares are found here both on the hills and the low grounds. 

 Thompson records that about the year 1820 some Brown 

 Hares (Lepus europa'us) were brought from. England and 

 turned out on the largest Copeland Island, off Donaghadee ; 

 they did not succeed, and became extinct. (For further 



