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LXV.—ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SQUIRREL INTO 
IRELAND, sy RICHARD M. BARRINGTON, a. 113, 
Wita A Map. 
[Read May 19th, 1880. ] 
THE question as to whether the squirrel is a native of Ireland or 
has been introduced is an interesting one. It does not appear 
to be yet quite settled, and although I cannot claim to have 
answered the question so conclusively as to satisfy everyone, yet 
I hope to adduce strong evidence to prove that the squirrel is 
not indigenous, and that its existence in Ireland is due to human 
agency exercised at no very distant date. 
Its existence in this country prior to the comparatively recent 
introductions hereafter to be mentioned rests on vague traditions 
—words of doubtful meaning used by one or two old writers, and 
on the authority of O’Flaherty,* K’eogh,t and Rutty.{ Thompson 
states in 1840, in his report on the Vertebrate Fauna of Ireland,§ 
that “the squirrel is not now a truly native animal; it was 
introduced a few years since to the county of Wicklow, where it 
is said to be fast increasing in numbers,” and Sir W. Wilde had 
probably Thompson before him when he said :|| “ There is reason 
to believe that we had squirrels in abundance in our woods in 
former times; it has been re-introduced latterly.” Dr. Reeves 
says :1 “It is doubtful whether squirrels were indigenous to Ire- 
land.” Mr. J. R. Kinahan states :** “ Many doubt its ever having 
been indigenous.” Lord Rosse says :tt—* It is mentioned in some 
old record that a squirrel could hop from Birr to Portumna in the 
woods afterwards cut down for the glass manufacture, but Lord 
Rosse not having seen the MS. himself, cannot say if the evidence 
is sufficient to establish the existence of squirrels at that time,” 
* H’Iar Connaught—Hardiman’s ed. p. 10. (Written about 1684). 
{ Zoologia Medicinalis Hibernica, 1739, p. 83. 
t Nat. Hist. Co. Dublin, 1772, p. 291. 
§ Report on the Vertebrate Fauna of Ireland. Brit. Ass. Rep. 1840, p. 360. 
|| Paper “On the Unmanufactured Animal Remains belonging to the Academy,” Proc. 
Royal Irish Acad. Vol. VII., p. 208 
| Paper “ On Augustin, an Irish writer of the 7th century,” Proc. Royal Irish Acad., 
Vol. VIL, p- 518. 
** Proc, Nat. Hist. Soc. of Dublin, Vol., I., p. 69. 
++ In lit. to R.M.B., Feb., 1880. 
Scrzn. Proc. R.D.S. Vou. 11, Pt. vu, 2T 
