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( 377 ) 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF DONEGAL. 



By Henby Chichesteb Hart, B.A., F.L.S. 



(Continued from p. 338.) 



*Raven, Corvus corax, Linn. —Breeds and resides in two places 

 in Fanet. Not uncommon in Donegal, and to be met with in 

 the wilder districts, as at Muckish, Slieve Snacht, Lough Salt, &c, 

 inland ; and Horn Head, Aranmore, Burton Port, Dunaff Head, &c, 

 along the coast. The Raven is strongly dominant, and by no 

 means decreasing in Donegal. It is commoner in the north than 

 in the south-west. Ravens breed on Aranmore Island, and on 

 Rathlin O'Beirne Island (Reports on Migration 1883, 1887). 



*Hooded Crow, C. comix, Linn. — Common, and breeding in 

 many places along the sea-cliffs, as on Tory Island, Knockalla, 

 Carrablagh, Erris, &c. Abundant along the Fanet shore district 

 in autumn, more scattered in winter. The Grey Crow beats away 

 the Kestrel and the Chough from the cliffs it frequents. Both 

 the last-named have been banished from breeding-places at 

 Carrablagh by this bird. 



*Rook, C.frugilegus, Linn. — Abundant at every season in 

 Donegal, where there are numerous rookeries of all sizes ; some- 

 times, in the wild districts, occurring in the most trifling and 

 exposed plantations. " During the hard winter I have alluded to 

 (1880-81), I on several occasions saw Rooks eating dead birds, 

 which was a revelation to me. Mr. Murray Stewart's gamekeeper 

 assures me that they suck the grouse-eggs on the mountain 

 adjoining Wood Hill, Ardara, where there is a rookery" (A. B.). 

 Can it be possible that there are any Carrion Crows (Corvus 

 corone) about Killybegs ? 



*Magpie, Pica caudata, Fleming. — Common and resident in 

 Fanet and elsewhere, usually breeding, if permitted to do so, 

 near dwelling-places. A buff-coloured variety frequented Kilma- 

 crennan in the year 1878. 



*Jackdaw, Corvus monedula, Linn. — Resident, but not very 

 numerous, in Fanet, except about its breeding haunts. These 

 are situated in holes in grassy or ivy-clad cliffs above the sea, 

 excepting in a few instances where ruins occur. The sea-cliffs 

 are preferred always, if they are to be had, and several of these 

 are inhabited by Jackdaws along the shores of Lough Swilly, as 

 well as elsewhere on the Donegal seaboard. 



ZOOLOGIST. — OCT., 1891. 2 H 



