Zoology, 155 



visitor, but has been obtained in both counties, the last in 

 December 1897. The Crossbill is a rare visitor; and although 

 Thompson mentions it as having once bred in Co. Down, 

 there is no evidence that it has done so in recent years, though 

 a flock of six, seen in Hillsborough Park at the end of July 

 igoi, may possibly have been reared in the vicinity. The 

 first recorded British specimen of the Two-barred Crossbill 

 was obtained near Belfast on 11 January, 1802; while about 

 1867 another was killed at Templepatrick, Co. Antrim 

 (Ussher). 



The *Starling has increased as a breeding species here 

 to a wonderful extent, but our residents are enormously 

 augmented by the winter immigrants. The Rose-coloured 

 Starling has only occurred three times — all three in Co. 

 Down — and has not been obtained since 1838. On several 

 places in the cliffs of Antrim, the *Chough breeds ; but the 

 Mourne mountains appear to be its only stronghold in Down. 

 [The Jay cannot now be included in our list; but in 1900 

 a gentleman brought over from England a dozen Jays, and 

 liberated them in Down.] The introduced *jMagpie, being 

 little molested, is very common, and is increasing ; while 

 the *Jackdaw is becoming a nuisance in towns, and has 

 some large colonies in cliffs. The *Raven has still a few 

 breeding-places in both counties, but is getting very un- 

 common. It has long ceased to breed at the Gobbins. 

 Different observers have reported the Carrion-Crow as 

 visiting the Mourne mountains every spring, and they are 

 said to have bred there. A pair has visited Langford 

 Lodge estate every spring for more than twenty-five years ; 

 and a recently-killed bird was picked up at Murlough Bay, 

 Co. Antrim, in September 1896 {Irish Nat., 1896, p. 319). 

 But, speaking generally, the Carrion-Crow is little known in 

 Ireland. The *Hooded Crow, or Grey Crow, is abundant 

 in certain places, and breeds regularly in both counties, 

 but is rarely seen in Belfast Lough. The *Rook is very 

 common everywhere, and is increasing. Vast flocks of 

 *Sky-Larks arrive in winter, to reinforce our resident birds. 

 Thompson mentions the Wood-Lark as occurring in Antrim 

 and Down, and states it is "not very uncommon in the 

 warm, sandy district of Malone"; but eight years' residence 



