Zoological Society. 



145 



ning of October in the same year, near the city of Londonderry, came 

 under my inspection. In March 1839 a second example was ob- 

 tained at Kilbarry, county of Waterford, as I learn from Dr. Burkitt, 

 who likewise adds, that the hoopoe has been met with at Tramore 

 and Woodstown, in the same county, on three or four occasions. In 

 a letter from Mr. R. Ball of Dublin, dated October 30, 1840, it 

 was stated that a hoopoe had been shot at Cork a few days before. 

 Mr. T. W. Warren of Dublin informs me that late in the autumn of 

 1 84 1 two specimens of this bird, killed in the counties of Westmeath 

 and Wexford, were sent to the metropolis to be preserved ; and I re- 

 ceived intelligence of another being obtained on the 17th Oct., 1841, 

 at Saunder's Court, near the city of Wexford, about which place 

 this species has been met with several times*. 



From the preceding notes it appears that the hoopoe has visited 

 Ireland for the last five years — from 1837 to 1841 inclusive; — in 

 1836 there is no record ; but this may have arisen from mere omis- 

 sion : in 1833, 1834 and 1835 it was obtained. All these birds, 

 except some two or three said to have been met with in winter, were 

 evidently on migration, a few of them in spring, and by far the 

 greater number in autumn — in September and October. I am not 

 aware of the species having been noticed here during summer, though 

 it may be expected rarely to occur at this season : it generally ap- 

 pears singly. It seems strange that individuals should frequently 

 wander so far west of the direct line of their migration as this island, 

 either when moving towards the north of Europe for the summer, or 

 towards Africa for the winter. 



On the 24th and 25th of April last (as particularly noticed in 'An- 

 nals,' vol. viii. pp. 126 and 127) two or three of these birds alighted 

 on H.M.S. Beacon, when on the passage from Malta to the Morea. 

 When travelling from Aix-la-Chapelle to Liege, on the 17th of July, 

 I was gratified with the sight of a hoopoe, which alighted on the road 

 before the carriage. 



[Some instances of the occurrence of the hoopoe are recorded in 

 our pages, vol. vi. and viii : see also p. 148. — Ed.] 



[To be continued.] 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



September 14, 1841. — Prof. Owen, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



A letter was read from William Ogilby, Esq., H.B.M. Consulate, 

 Charleston, announcing a present from that gentleman of seven living 

 Water-Tortoises for the Society's Menagerie. 



A letter from R. Hill, Esq. was next read. In this letter, which 

 is dated Spanish Town, Jamaica, July 28, 1841, Mr. Hill relates 

 some interesting facts respecting the nests of the birds of Jamaica. 



* Since the above was sent to the Annals, Mr. R. Davis, jun., of Clon- 

 mel has communicated two other instances of the occurrence of the hoopoe — 

 one shot on the grounds of Mr. Parker, near Cork; the other, obtained within 

 the last few months, near Waterford. 



Ann. Mac). N. Hist. Vol ix. L 



