The Zoologist — Septembek, 1870. 2283 



a grizzly gray. I saw many afterwards, but was unable to secure 

 another specimen : none of these varied from the usual yellowish gray 

 colour of this species. 



Golden Eagle. — Used to breed regularly on Brandon, in Kerry, 

 but now very scarce. I saw, however, a young female which was 

 caught in a rabbit trap, baited for a fox, last winter, by Lord Ventry's 

 gamekeeper. 



Sea Eagle. — A pair breed regularly every year on one of the 

 Blasket Islands. 



Peregrine Falcon. — A pair of these noble birds are, I am happy to 

 say, found breeding in all suitable localities round the coast of Kerry, 

 owing, no doubt, greatly to the interest Lord Ventry takes in our native 

 birds, prohibiting their destruction on his property. 



Goshaiok. — In Ballymauas Wood, in Wicklow, I saw a young male : 

 he flew up the wood towards me, alighting on a bare branch of an oak 

 tree about thirty yards off. The longitudinal markings and rufous 

 edgings to his feathers characteristic of immaturity were strongly 

 defined. The only authenticated instance of the occurrence of this 

 species in Ireland during this century, that I am aware of, was recorded 

 by my brother in 'Land and Water,' March 5th, 1870. She was a 

 splendid old female, weighing three poiiuds seven ounces,* and was 

 shot during last winter on the Galtee mountains, Tipperary. It is a 

 remarkable fact that in old hawking days Irish goshawks were 

 famous, and are to be found mentioned in some of the oldest works 

 upon falconry; for example, at page 5 in ' Libro de cetreria,' by Don 

 Fadriqiie de Cuniga, y Lotoma, published in Salamanca in 1565, 

 and also in the ' Book of Falconry or Hawking,' by George Turkerville, 

 published in London, 1611, page 60. Both of these works were the 

 greatest authorities of their lime, and the Irish goshawks are mentioned 

 as being most highly prized. 



Hen Harrier. — Common in parts of Kerry, having, if anything, 

 increased of late years. 



Marsh Harrier. — Saw a pair hunting over Lough Broad, in 

 Wicklow. Very probably were breeding there, as I saw them 

 repeatedly. 



Raven. — Used to be very common, but have all been poisoned 

 lately on account of the damage they did, destroying young lambs, &c. 

 I only saw one bird on the Blasket Islands. 



Hooded Crow. — Extremely common. 



Chough. — Found in pairs round the coast of Kerry. 



