IRISH SPECIES UNKNOWN AS BRITISH. 
427 
western hemisphere, we should rather, on account of the compar- 
ative proximity of Great Britain, expect them to be found there 
than in Ireland. The exceptions are the Lapland Bunting, 
Mealy Bedpole, American white-winged Crossbill, and Bed-winged 
Starling; the two latter being North American birds, which rarely 
visit Europe, might as likely have occurred in Ireland as in Great 
Britain ; the two former, inhabiting the northern parts of both 
Europe and America, should rather — taking it for granted, that the 
individuals which visited the latter island came from the north of 
Europe — be expected to visit Great Britain than Ireland. The 
occurrence of the Australian Spiny-tailed Swallow in England is 
paradoxical. 
Several of the species in the preceding list will doubtless yet 
be ascertained to visit Ireland ; a few indeed have already been 
said to do so, but I have not been able to obtain any satisfactory 
evidence : — the Green Woodpecker is even stated to be resident 
in some well-wooded parts of the island, but no positive infor- 
mation on the subject could be procured. 
Species obtained in Ireland and not in Great Britain. 
Gold-vented Thrush. Turdus aurig aster. 
Great-spotted Cuckoo. Cuculus glandarius. 
Belted Kingfisher. Alcedo alcyon. 
These are mere accidental visitants ; a single individual of each 
of the first two was procured, and two specimens — about the 
same time — of the last. The Gold-vented Thrush is a native of 
Africa; the Great Spotted Cuckoo of Southern Europe and 
Northern Africa ; and the Belted Kingfisher of North America. 
They will be found treated of in the preceding pages. 
The Ash-coloured Harrier ( Circus cineraceus, Mont., sp.), 
alluded to atp. 83 and p. 107 has since been obtained in Ireland. 
