A List of Irish Birds. 579 



A LIST OF IRISH BIRDS. 



[The asterisk (*) is used to indicate the species which breed in Ireland.] 

 ORDER ACCIPITRES. 



VULTURID^E. 



Gypsfulvus (Gmel.) Griffon Vulture. 



Once captured at Cork in the spring of 1843. (Thompson}. This 

 specimen is preserved in the Natural History Museum at 

 Trinity College, Dublin. 



FALCONID^E. 



*Aquila chrysaetns (Linn.) Golden Eagle. 



Decreasing. Still breeds very sparingly in the West and North of 

 Ireland, in Donegal, Kerry, Galway, and Mayo. 



Aquila clanga (Pallas). Spotted Eagle. 



Two were shot near Youghal, January, 1845. (Thompson}. One 

 of these is in the Trinity College Museum. 



'Haliseetus albicilla (Linn.) White- tailed Eagle. Sea-Eagle. 



Like the Golden Eagle, becoming very scarce. It is believed that 

 a few pairs still breed in the West of Ireland, in Kerry and 

 Mayo ; but, owing to poisoning, the Sea Eagle has become 

 rarer than the Golden Eagle. 



Pandion haliseetus (Linn.) Osprey. 



Rare visitor, chiefly in autumn. There is, in the Museum, a fine 

 specimen, recently obtained at Clontarf, close to Dublin. 



Falco candicans (J. F. Gmel.) Greenland Falcon. 



Native of America. Rare and uncertain winter visitor. Eight 

 were captured, at different points along the western coast of 

 Ireland, in the winter of 1883-4, f which three are in the 

 Museum, two of these, shot at the Tearaght Lighthouse, 

 Kerry, having been presented by Mr. E. M'Carron. An old 

 male was shot at the Skelligs Lighthouse, September 28, 1887. 

 (Migration Report for 1887, p. 122). 



Falco islandus (J. F. Gmel.) Iceland Falcon. 



Like the former, a very rare winter visitor. The specimen in the 

 Museum was obtained near Belmullet, co. Mayo, and has been 

 kindly lent by Mr. H. J. Richards. 

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