152 Guide to Belfast. 



attempts to introduce the Brown Hare into Ireland, see 

 Barrett-Hamilton in IrisJi Nat.^ vol. vii, page 69.) The 

 Rabbit (Lepus cunicuhis) is exceedingly common almost 

 everywhere, and there are some extensive warrens. 



Ungulata. — The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), once 

 common in Ireland, is now extinct, save for one or two 

 protected herds in the south. We have imported Red Deer 

 for a few private parks, such as Castlewellan, Montalto, etc., 

 while the County Down stag-hounds hunt regularly. The 

 other species of British deer still surviving — the Roe Deer 

 (Capreohts cap?-ea) — is not a native of Ireland, but Dr. 

 Scharff tells me it has been introduced into counties Sligo 

 and Mayo. The Fallow Deer (Cervus damn) has been long 

 introduced, and is kept in private parks, such as Glenarm 

 Park, Shane's Castle, Castlewellan, Seaforde, etc 



Cetacea.^ — The Common Rorqual (Bahejwptera ??ws- 

 ciiliis) is frequently seen in autumn, and, according to 

 R. Lloyd Patterson (Irish Nat., vol. ix, p. 211), has been 

 observed more often than the Bottle-nosed Whale of late 

 years in Belfast Lough. The only record of the Sperm 

 Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the district is that of Dr. 

 Molyneux in 1695, stranded in Co. Antrim, near Coleraine 

 (Thompson). The Bottle-nosed Whale ( Hyperoodon rostra- 

 tus) is not an uncommon visitor in autumn to Belfast Lough, 

 being locally known as "Herring-hog." The Porpoise 

 (Pkoaena communis) is common in autumn. The Ca'ing 

 Whale (Globicephalus 7nelas) also visits us somewhat fre- 

 quently : one was captured off Whiteabbey in December 

 1878, and described by R. Lloyd Patterson in the local 

 papers. It has also been taken on the coast of Down. The 

 Killer (Orca gladiator) is rarely seen, but has occurred more 

 than once in the district; e.g., in 1827 and 1868. The White- 

 beaked Dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus albirostris) has occurred 

 only once, in April 1883, near Donaghadee, County Down' 

 (R. Lloyd Patterson in Field, 5 May, 1883). The White- 

 sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) can be included in 

 our list through one taken at Portrush, County Antrim, in 

 July 1876 (J. D. Ogilby in Zoologist, 1876, p. 50^]). The 



1 See R. F. Scharff on Irish Cetacea. /n's/i Naturalist, vol. i.x> 

 pp. 83-91. 



