3io THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



As the spoiler flies by, the Wigeon leave the 

 banks and huddle together at sea. Mr. Warren 

 says, he once witnessed an interesting flight by a 

 Falcon after a Green Plover. It resulted in the 

 latter becoming so utterly exhausted, that it pitched 

 on the water and swam about endeavouring to 

 escape. But the Falcon was not to be thus cheated 

 of her prey, for she gradually lowered her flight, 

 and poising herself with fluttering wing, extended 

 her feet, and daintily picked the unfortunate Plover 

 off the water without wetting a talon. 



Both the GREENLAND and ICELAND FALCONS 

 (Falco candicans and F. islandus] have been occa- 

 sionally met with in Ireland, but must be regarded 

 as very rare and irregular visitors. Thompson has 

 recorded a Greenlander killed many years ago in 

 Donegal, and subsequently a second in the same 

 county, obtained at Drumhoe Castle. A third, pro- 

 cured at Belmullet, in the winter of 1868, is pre- 

 served in the Museum of the Dublin Natural 

 History Society. 



In April 1875, one was shot at Killala, co. Mayo, 

 and was preserved for Lieut-Colonel Knox, of 

 Castlerea. And Mr. Gage, of Rathlin Island, has 

 one which was shot on the island in March 1866. 



Mr. Gage, himself an ornithologist, writes : 

 " Some years ago I was sitting on high ground in 

 the island, when I saw this bird fly overhead. By 

 its flight I knew it to be a hawk, and from its size 

 and white plumage I judged it to be the Gyr, though 

 I had never seen one. I gave my men particular 

 instructions to watch it, and a few days later it 

 was killed by the shepherd in charge. Its measure- 



