1906. PATTICRSON. — Birds of Ireland and the Isle of Man. 163 
pareiitly found it breeding in small numbers both in the north 
and south of the island. In Ireland it breeds in about twenty- 
two counties, and is '* a common and characteristic bird of 
wild and exposed parts of our island " (Ussher). It seems 
very likely that the Crossbill may breed in Man, though 
actual proof is yet wanting. The scarcity of conifer woods 
will account for this, as it breeds in small numbers in each 
province of Ireland. The Reed Bunting, here so common 
near water, is a scarce and local bird in Man, as would be ex- 
pected. The Chough seems to be generally distributed over 
the island, and it and the Hooded Crow occupy the same posi- 
tion as they do on the Irish list. The Raven has fifteen nest- 
ing places and is apparently commoner in Man (for its size) 
than in Ireland. It is hard to explain the scarcity of the 
Swift in Man, and strange to say the breeding of the King- 
fisher has never been recorded ! It is probably resident in 
small numbers. Of the Owls, the lyong-eared is common and 
resident, the Barn is almost unknown, though Owls of this 
.species may have nested in ruins and in a hollow tree on two 
occasions, but it is not proved ; w^hile from the fact that on 
four occasions owls' nests w^ith eggs have been found on the 
ground " in open gorsy spots amid young plantations," the 
breeding of the Short-eared " seems to be pretty well settled." 
Definite proof would be desirable, however, more especially as 
the Long-eared Owl has been known to nest on the ground 
elsewhere, and the scarcity of suitable trees in Man might 
have turned a chance occurrence into a habit. It is only- 
right to add that Mr. Ralfe saw a Short-eared Owl flying about 
the rocks at Langness on 3rd July, 1898. As is well known, 
the two first Owls are resident and widely distributed here, 
and the Short-eared (which has never been known to breed) 
occurs more or less commonly in winter. The White-tailed 
Eagle seems to have bred in Man (perhaps two eyries) up to 
1820 or 1830 ; it is now quite unknown, and the Golden Kagle 
may have been seen on two or three occasions. In Ireland a 
few pairs of each still survive in the wildest districts. The 
Peregrine has ten or eleven nesting places (which are very 
properly not named) all on the coast of Man, where it does not 
breed inland, and strangely enough does not seem to occur in 
winter. It is much commoner in Ireland, where it is found 
