NATURAL HISTORY 



OF 



THE BIRDS OF IRELAND. 



ORDER L RAPTORES (BIRDS OF PREY). 

 FAMILY I. VULTURIDJE (VULTURES). 



GENUS I. VULTUR (VULTURE). 



SPECIES 1 THE GRIFFON VULTURE. 



Vultur fulvus. Briss. 

 Le Griffon. Temm. 



^ jpHE GRIFFON VULTURE is a species of such extreme rarity 

 JL that it has not as yet been added to the Fauna of England 

 or Scotland. Obtained in a single instance in Ireland, which was 

 captured in a living state, on the estate of the Earl of Shan- 

 non, in the county of Cork, it came into the possession of 

 that nobleman, and was offered by him to the collection in 

 the Gardens of the Zoological Society, but, unfortunately, it 

 died before arrangements were completed for its transmission. 

 By the direction of Lord Shannon it was carefully pre- 

 served, and then added to the collection in Trinity College. 

 From that nobleman Mr. R. Ball (now Dr. Ball) learned 

 that the bird was purchased by his steward for 2s. Qd. of a 

 peasant, who caught it upon the sea shore in the neighbour- 

 hood. Its plumage being in good order tended to indicate 

 that it had not escaped from confinement.* 

 Habitat Eastern Europe. 



* Thompson, 



