MANX ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES : 1916-17. 
BY 
P. -G. RALFE. 
THE following notes are intended to continue the record for 
the Isle of Man from the Article in British Birds; Vol... EX. 
pp. 290-292. 
MistLe-TurRvsH (T'urdus v. viscivorus)—In 1916 a nest 
was again built on a “crane” in Scarlett limestone quarry, 
against the axle of an iron wheel, and on April 8th, it 
contained four eggs, which were duly hatched. 
BLACKBIRD (T'urdus m. merula)—In 1916, in the above 
quarry, there was also a nest of the Blackbird on the wheel 
of an unused engine in a shed. 
RepstTart (Ruticilla ph. phenicurus)—On May 6th, 1917 
Col. H. W. Stevenson saw one in his garden at Castletown. 
This date is in keeping with previous appearances, always 
seemingly on passage, of the species in Man. 
House Martin (Delichon u. urbica)—In 1916 and 1917 
a small colony of this rather scarce and local Manx bird 
established itself on the Post Office and other houses in 
Castletown. 
EAGLe (sp. ?)—In “ Mannin,” No. 9, p. 525 (1917). Mr. 
G. W. Wood quotes a letter (Hist. MSS. Com. Ormonde MSS. 
(N.S. v. IV.) ) from Governor Henry Nowell to the Marquis 
of Ormonde (Guardian to William, Earl of Derby and Lord 
of Man) dated in 1676. “ And I cannot also omit but give 
your Grace an account that there is of late an eagle coming 
into this isle, which is a fowl that very seldom and scarce 
in an age cometh here, it being a place where never any such 
birds useth to breed, and that there is all possible care taken 
for to preserve her here, it being observed to be very lucky 
when any such is seen in the island.” This passage which 
makes the Eagle a rare and casual visitor, is unexpected 
in view of Bishop Wilson’s statement about 50 years later, 
that an “airy ” existed, and of the fact that Eagles bred in 
Man till the early part of last century. Perhaps Nowell was 
mistaken, but he had long been connected with the island, 
took an interest in such matters, and had good opportunities 
for authentic information. Rather unexpected, too, is the 
zeal to preserve the strange visitor 
