308 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



but out of shot, in swooping and almost wing- 

 motionless curves, the tail first slanted this way 

 then that, as it acted rudder to the bird's flight. 

 Meantime it uttered, without ceasing, the piercing 

 scream so well known to residents in India, and 

 which to me would alone have indicated its species 

 had I not seen the forked tail. The next day I was 

 passing the same spot, when up sprang the bird 

 from behind a rock within a few yards of me. I 

 fired and killed it, and it proved to be a young male 

 Kite, the only specimen I ever personally saw in 

 Ireland. 



THE COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo vulgaris], although 

 not numerous as a species, is generally to be found 

 in suitable localities, and not only amongst rocks 

 overhanging inland lakes, but also in cliffs facing 

 the sea. The ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD (Biiteo 

 lagopus] and the HONEY BUZZARD (Buteo apivorus) 

 are both of extremely rare occurrence in Ireland, 

 the latter being an occasional visitor in summer. 



THE MARSH HARRIER and HEN HARRIER (Circus 

 ceruginosus and C. cyaneus) both occur in Ireland, 

 and are believed to be pretty generally distributed ; 

 building on the ground in marshes and mountain 

 bogs. 



THE PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) nests 

 on most of the bold headlands and rocky islands 

 of the Irish coast, and now and then inland. Still 

 these birds do not increase in number, although they 

 yearly bring out their young in safety in many inac- 

 cessible cliffs. I know at least a dozen spots where I 

 have seen a pair of these birds breeding annually for 

 several years. Yet, year after year, if not the same 



