The Zoologist — May, 1866. 221 



ten days, and as often on the late as the early side of the middle of 

 the section. 



Golden Eagle. — Has occurred ; was, no doubt, formerly a resident. 

 Wliiletailed Eagle. — Once a resident, but now only very occasional. 

 In two instances only have I seen it in this county within the last six 

 years. Its former breeding-station was the Island of Lambay. 

 Osprey. — Rare. 



Peregrine Falcon.— I can scarcely call this falcon a. resident. A 

 pair, I am informed, bred at Howth last year, and a pair, some years 

 ago, used to breed at Lambay. In former times Howth, Lambay and 

 Ireland's Eye possessed many eyries of this bird. Stragglers occur 

 occasionally. Five times I could have killed a noble peregrine which 

 frequented Dalkey Island for about a week : the bird being my crest, 

 and I an Irishman, its life of course was sacred. 



Merlin. — Resident in the mountainous and boggy parts; soon, 

 like the poor peregrine, will be exterminated by gamekeepers, &c. 

 To be met with pretty often during winter in the snipe bogs. Often 

 has a meriin accompanied me whilst shooting in a snipe bog, and I 

 assure you his depredations are not great; I never saw one strike a 

 snipe on the ground, but if flushed and missed by the shooter, the hawk 

 would give chase, or if shot, before reaching the ground, if the bird 

 could seize it, he invariably carried it off; but if it touched the ground 

 before the merlin caught it, it was quite safe. When the hawk would 

 leave the bog, so might I— all the snipe were flushed. Many an 

 incredulous look has been given me on telling an incident like this, 

 but those who doubt me let them not kill a hawk the moment he is 

 within range, or look deadly at him, for the human eye can terrify 

 most things, and very probably a meriin may sometimes act the pointer 

 for them, and cause wild snipe to lie closer for their dogs. I have 

 heard of many instances of hawks acting as above. 



Marsh Harrier. — An occasional autumn and winter visitor. In 

 1860 I saw one in company with a flock of pomarine skuas ; at first 

 I took it for the common skua, but the long tail and white crown of 

 head at once indicated what it was. It was some miles at sea. 



Hen Harrier. — Rare. Has been obtained at all seasons. 



Shorteared Owl. — A regular, though not a common, winter visitant 

 to the bog, and other suitable localities. Old males are often cream- 

 colour, instead of tawny. Arrives from the beginning of October. 



Stiowy Owl. — Has occurred. 



Great Gray Shrike. — Very lare. 



