SOME BIRDS IN IRELAND AND SWITZERLAND. 215 



for three months, then a fuller avifauna of the Swiss birds would 

 have been furnished. Inasmuch as all observations were made 

 in summer, it was not possible to compare the relative differ- 

 ences in the numbers of the winter visitants common to the two 

 countries. 



Order Accipitres. 



Accipiter nisus, Linn. Sparrow-Hawk.* — Somewhat uncom- 

 mon.! Was observed for the most part in the valley of Chamonix. 

 Common throughout Ireland. In the Swiss form the stripes on 

 the breast are more denned, and, according to M. Gerbe,+ there 

 is a local species found in Switzerland and in Germany (A. major) 

 larger in size, and the bands on the feathers of the tail are darker 

 and more numerous. Other minor differences also exist. 



General distribution. — Common in every country in Europe, 

 in many parts of Asia, China, East Africa, and India. 



Milvus ictinus, Sav. Kite. — Three were noticed soaring 

 over Lake Geneva on different occasions. They came under 

 close observation, and, with the aid of a powerful binocular, their 

 forked tails — a characteristic feature — could be distinguished. 

 In this way the species was easily identified. Extremely rare in 

 Ireland. According to the late A. G. More,§ it has only been 

 observed five or six times. The specimen obtained by Sir K. 

 Payne Gallwey|| seems as yet to be the only one known. This 

 was shot in 1880-1881 on the Cashen river, in Kerry. The 

 writer describes the bird as flying " in swooping and almost wing- 

 motionless curves, the tail first slanted this way, then that, as it 

 acted rudder to the bird's flight." 



General distribution. — Common in most parts of Europe 

 south of Norway to the Mediterranean. According to YarrelLH 

 the Kite does not breed north of lat. 61°. It occurs also in 

 Egypt, Palestine, Algeria, and the Canaries. 



* It was curious that the common Kestrel was not observed. 



f In the following list it must be understood that the occurrence of the 

 birds in Switzerland is noted in each case before their occurrence in 

 Ireland. 



I Bevised edition of ' Ornithologie Europeenne ' of the late Dr. Degland. 



§ ' List of Irish Birds,' 1890, p. 6. 



|| ' Fowler in Ireland,' p. 307. 



IF ' British Birds,' vol. i. p. 96. 



