THE ANNALS OF IRISH ZOOLOGY. 437 
amongst the stories collected by the too credulous historian, who 
in this instance appears to have sought some justification for his 
belief in the story in consequence of having seen with his own 
eyes some Barnacles clinging to a beam alongshore ! 
He describes the flight of the Osprey from his own observation 
(cap. xvi.), but credits it with some remarkable peculiarities of 
structure and habit, which shows that he could never have 
examined a specimen closely. Had he been able to do so, he 
would not have informed us gravely that this bird has one foot 
webbed, the other armed with talons, so that it may swim with 
the one, while it grasps its prey with the other. Some equally 
wonderful stories are related with regard to the Kingfisher, to 
which a chapter is devoted. 
In the North of Ireland, we are told, wild Swans were common, 
but Storks very rare, and those black! ‘The song of the dying 
Swan, as might be supposed, calls forth a passing allusion. The 
Hooded Crow is noticed as more common in Ireland than its 
black congener, and its habit of breaking open molluscs by letting 
them fall from a height in the air is briefly described. The Grey 
Shrike seems to have been not unknown in Ireland when Giraldus 
wrote. He refers to its habit of impaling beetles on a thorn. 
With regard to species not found in Ireland, Giraldus states 
that in his day there were no falcons but Peregrines; no Ger- 
falcons, which came from northern regions; no Partridges nor 
Pheasants; and no Magpies. The Nightingale, which he tells us 
was never seen in Ireland, still remains unknown there. 
Amongst the beasts of chase he includes Deer, Wild Boars 
(which were numerous, though small and ill shaped), Hares, and 
Martens, the last-named being very common in the woods. 
The Badger is particularly noticed on account of a singular 
habit with which he is credited. According to report, apparently 
believed by Giraldus, a Badger when about to remove the soil 
which he has dug out from his burrow, lies on his back, taking as 
much as he can carry between his legs, and holding a bit of wood 
in his mouth is by means of it drawn out by his friends! 
The Beaver is mentioned only for the purpose of showing 
that it was unknown in Ireland, though a few were said to be 
then still existing in Wales and Scotland. Amongst other fere 
nature absent from Ireland, Giraldus includes the Roe-deer, 
Fallow-deer, Hedgehog, Stoat, and Polecat. 
