1915- 



Noics. 



15 



Honey Buzzard at Knock, Co. Down. 



On November 15th, 1914, my attention was attracted by a number 

 of Magpies, which were chattering in some fir trees in my garden at Knock, 

 Belfast. I fired three shots at these birds with a rook rifle from an 

 upstairs window, before I discovjered the cause of the disturbance, and 

 then I saw a large bird sitting on a lower branch. I fired at it with the 

 rifle, and it flew into a neighbouring plantation followed by the Magpies, 

 who kept on chattering at the stranger, and in so doing directed mc to 

 where it had gone, and I killed it on the wing with a shot gun. I have 

 given the foregoing details to show its comparative tameness. It would 

 seem probable that the bird was blown out of its course by the strong 

 north-easterly winds which were then prevalent, and it has been suggested 

 that the cannonading on the continent might have had something to do 

 with it being so much out of its course. It is now in the hands of Messrs. 

 Sheals, the taxidermists, who identified it, and who inform me that it 

 is a young male Honey Buzzard [Pernis apivorus). It was in excellent 

 condition, and in its stomach were found the remains of bees and other 

 insects, 



Herbert T. Malcomson. 



Knock, Belfast. 



Waxwings in Co. Mayo. 



I visited the Tearaght Rock light -house early in July, and one of 

 the keepers, Mr. Michael Roche, told me that in February, 1909, he saw 

 nine Waxwings on Eagle Island, Co. Mayo, when stationed there. He 

 described the birds accurately. 



Richard M, Barrington. 



Fassaroc, Bray. 



Chiffchaff in December. 



I watched a Chiffchaff for some time this evening feeding in the Hazel 

 scrub which abounds along the shore of Lough Erne, here at Dreenan, 

 where large flocks of Long -tailed Titmice and Golden Regulus also 

 congregate. I think it may be interesting to record it. 



Henry B. Rathborne. 



Greenan, Pettigo. 



