NOTES. 329 



if we were disposed to adopt that system, and we are not in- 

 clined to give here the synonomy of each name used, as would 

 otherwise be necessary. Howard Saunders' work is the latest 

 authoritative list known to the majority of our readers, 

 and the nomenclature there employed is based upon the 

 B.O.U. list (admittedly out of date). 



In deciding which of two or more names often used for a 

 bird should be adopted the priority law is necessary and most 

 beneficial, but when such an obscure name as thunbergi is 

 adopted for a well-known bird simply and solely because it 

 was the first name proposed, and the other well-known names 

 under which the whole history of the bird has been recorded 

 are discarded, then in my opinion the law is unwisely 

 interpreted and becomes mischievous, in that the useful past 

 is disregarded or obscured for the sake of the useless past, 

 which it would have been far better to have left in its 

 obscurity. Although Dr. Hartert is seeking to safeguard the 

 future, the frequent effect of the rules he has adopted is to 

 have regard for nothing but the beginning of things. Thus it 

 seems to me that the history of the Song-Thrush has been 

 altogether obscured for the future because by Dr. Hartert 1 s 

 code we are to call the Redwing Turdus musicus. If a " law " 

 must be interpreted in such a way as to cause in its application 

 such a mischievous result as this, is it worthy of being 

 upheld ? — H. F. Witherby.] 



RARE BIRDS IN IRELAND. 



Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca). 

 A female, in almost adult plumage, was shot at Belmullet, 

 co. Mayo, on January 4th, 1910. 



Greenland Falcons (Falco candicans). 

 A male and female were shot on Tory Island, co. Donegal, 

 on December 9th and December 30th, 1909. An immature 

 female was shot at Achill, co. Mayo, on November 29th, 

 1909 ; the stomach contained the remains of a Blackbird ; 

 another Falcon was seen but not obtained. A female was 

 shot at Belmullet, co. Mayo, on January 20th, 1910, and was 

 probably the bird seen on Achill. Its stomach contained 

 the remains of a Teal. The first recorded capture for the east 

 coast was a male shot, feeding on a Wood-Pigeon, near 

 Greystones, co. Wicklow, on January 12th, 1910. A female 

 was shot near Tralee, co. Kerry in the middle of February. 



