110 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
destroying one of them while the nestlings were still young. In 1888 
another pair of Golden Eagles nested on the Skye-coast: they had bred 
for several years just on the march between two properties, and, though 
our shepherds complained of losing lambs, we had been delighted to 
encourage them. In May, 1888, a keeper laid out some poisoned rats for 
Hooded Crows: one of the breeding Eagles took the poison, and its 
carcase was found on the hill-side some weeks later. I have its skeleton. 
These are instances of the destruction that goes on in spite of the efforts 
of proprietors to protect their Golden Eagles. The White-tailed Eagle 
has been similarly persecuted, and is all but extinct in Skye. Only a few 
years ago one miscreant shot an old bird of this species on her eggs, and 
sent bird and eggs to a collector in the South. On another occasion a 
shooting tenant shot the feathered young in the nest, as he could not get 
them alive. But I believe that most mischief is done by egg-collectors, 
who corrupt the morals of keepers and shepherds. One Edinburgh 
tradesman is reputed to have obtained a hundred Eagles’ eggs from the 
Scottish Highlands ; and if I was at liberty to reveal confidences, I could 
show that the instigators of egg-stealing are not all dealers by profession, 
as one would have supposed, but often men who well know what harm they 
are doing.—H. A. Macpurrson. 
Night Heron in Ireland.—A specimen of the Night Heron, Nycticorax 
griseus, was shot on December 31st, in an old quarry on the south side of 
Dublin. The bird is in the immature spotted plumage, was in very good 
condition, and measured 3 ft. 5 in. from tip to tip of wings, J ft. 114 in. 
from point of bill to end of tail. The stomach contained the remains of 
frogs—EpwarD WILLIAms (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 
FISHES. 
Clupea Finta, Cuv., at Killarney.—The occurrence of a Shad, Clupea 
finta, Cuv., in Killarney Lake, was first made known by the late William 
Andrews, who was informed that ‘‘ Herrings” were occasionally captured 
by the fishermen. Charr are also often called “* Herrings” in many of the 
Trish lakes, and I have obtained specimens of both Shad and Charr from 
the Lower Lake of Killarney. These Shad are taken by the “trawlers ” 
when drawing their nets for Salmon, and especially when using a smaller 
mesh for Trout. I never saw any specimens at all equal in size to the 
Shads, also A. finta, which are taken in the river Moy, of which I have now 
before me a specimen measuring nearly 24 inches in length; or the 
so-called “* Bony Horsemen,” (A. ‘finta), which in May frequent the mouth 
of the Blackwater in Waterford to the length of 20 inches. When visiting 
Kerry I often tried to ascertain whether anything was known of the 
breeding habits of the Killarney Shad, and whether it is ever found 
