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The Irish Natiiralist. 



June, 1920. 



Jer or Greenland Falcon at Lambay. 



I have received two letters from Mr. Francis Alason, steward to Mr. 

 Baring, of I.ambay. In the first, dated May 3th, he writes : — 



" On Monday, May 3rd, a Jer Falcon was seen by my son. I saw 

 it plainly yesterday evening. We had one of these birds at Glynwood, 

 Athlone, for four years. I "kept it during that time, and when it died 

 it was stuffed by Williams. Mr. Dames Long worth's butler caught it 

 in a landing net in Co. Donegal." 



The incident of the capture of the Falcon by Mr. Longworth's butler 

 is recorded in Ussher's " Birds of Ireland." 



In, his second communication, dated May Sth, Mr. Mason says : — - 



" The Falcon killed a Cock Pheasant on the 5th May and picked it 

 almost clean ; it was so gorged that it could only fly a very short distance, 

 and was captured by my son, and we now have it in a large cage. It 

 is white at the throat, breast, and underneath, on the back it is Avhite 

 streaked with dark grey, it is about as big as a Herring Gull." 



I do not think there can be any doubt as to the species. 



G. C. May. 



Dr.blin. 



NEWS GLEANINGS. 



The National Museum. 



All Irish naturalists will unite in offering their heartiest congratulations 

 to Dr. R. F. Scharff and Miss Jane Stephens, whose engagement has 

 recently been announced. Dr. Scharff's lifelong work as Keeper of the 

 Natural History Division of the Museum is known to ail, and Miss Stephens' 

 Assistantship in which she has shown her capabilities in zoological research 

 is thus happily crowned. 



The Natural History Assistantship, vacant through the lamented 

 death in action of C. M. Selbie, has lately been tilled by the appointment 

 of A. W. Stelfox, whose work on the Irish Land and Freshwater Mollusca 

 has made him well known to British and Furopean malacologists. In 

 all sincerity we express the opinion that this appointment is a subject 

 for congratulation to the Museum as well as to our friend who finds tlierc 

 congenial work. 



Now the resignation of Miss Stephens in view of her approaching 

 marriage causes another vacancy. W'e reluctantly state our belief 

 that there are very few young Irish naturalists at once (jualified and 

 willing to undertake the duties of such a post at the present time. But 

 it offers a great field for work to an earnest student and we heartily 

 commend its claims to any wlio may heed the call. We understand 

 that Candidates of either sex are r Hj^ible. 



