4214 Dublin Natural History Society. 



by no means of common occurrence. The colonists of Swan River call it the pink- 

 eyed duck, from an oblong mark of rose pink being immediately beneath the dark patch 

 surrounding each eye ; the irides are a dark reddish brown, and the tarsi a yellowish 

 brown. It is remarkable in having the neck, breast, and all the under parts crossed 

 by numerous dark brown fasciae. The sexes are similar in plumage, the male being 

 only distinguished by being of larger size. This beautiful barring of the neck and 

 breast is peculiar to some of the Natatores, and strikingly seen in the Magellanic 

 goose (Chloephaga Magellanica), the Antarctic goose (Bernicla Antarctica), and also 

 the ashy-headed goose of the Falkland Islands (Chloephaga inornata). In the southern 

 latitudes of Australia the membranaceous duck frequents the fresh-water lagoons in 

 company with the green-necked duck and the New Holland shoveller (Spathulea rhyn- 

 chotis), the shovel-nose duck of the colonists. The latter is closely assimilated to the 

 Spathulea of Europe. Another beautiful little species, Malacorhynchus Fosterorum, 

 frequeuts the mountain streams of the interior. It is the ' Wiho' of New Zealand, 

 being a pretty black duck with a white bill, and singular for its shrill whistle. As I 

 have before mentioned, the specimens of the membranaceous duck in the British 

 Museum were sent home by Governor Captain Grey, whose extensive knowledge of 

 Australia will afford ample means of obtaining most valuable records of the produc- 

 tions of that country. Captain Grey, late of the 83d Regiment (now Sir Charles 

 Grey), was appointed by Lord John Russell, when Secretary of State for the Colonies, 

 to succeed Lieut.-Colonel Gawler, from the great talents he possessed and his arduous 

 pursuit of knowledge." 



Various Birds observed in Ireland. 



Mr. Montgomery exhibited specimens of the great cinereous shrike (Lanius excu- 

 bitor) and the black-capped warbler (Motacilla atricapilla), both shot by him in 

 Beaulieu Wood, county of Louth. The latter, though not uncommon, was the first 

 time he had met with it in that county. The shrike or butcher bird, was the 

 fifteenth record in Ireland; and he would mention a singular circumstance relative to 

 this bird. On the continent, in Germany and Holland, from the antipathy of this bird 

 to the hawk tribe, the falconers use it for the purpose of capturing those birds of prey. 

 In Holland the method was, when the falcons or hawks passed over the great heaths, 

 the falconers placed a shrike, secured between three pieces of turf. On the appearance 

 of a hawk, even at a great distance, the shrike commenced a violent screaming, which 

 attracted the hawk to the spot. The falconer, in the meantime, had a live pigeon as a 

 decoy ; the hawk, in pouncing, was secured, the pigeon being drawn within a net set 

 for the purpose. 



Mr. Andrews said that with reference to the communication from Mrs. Blackburn, 

 she further mentions that a turnstoue with four young ones, unable to fly, were taken 

 last June on the shore of Valencia, near the old revenue station. An attempt was 

 made to rear the young, but it failed. 



Election of Members. 

 The ballot having been announced, Walter Lindsay, Esq., of Rathmines, and 

 William Compton Domville, of Santry House, were duly elected members. 

 The Society then adjourned to January. 



