Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/56

 description of a bird in his collection, believed to be an Iceland Falcon, which had been killed when on wing above a rabbit-war- ren, close to Dunfanaghy, county of Donegal. At a meeting of the British Association held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1838, Mr. John Hancock, of that town, read a paper (admirably illus- trated by specimens in various states of plumage) with a view to prove that the Iceland and Greenland Falcons are distinct species. This was subsequently published in the "Annals of Natural His- tory," as above quoted. On referring to the description of Mr. Stewart's bird, I felt certain, that according to the views of Mr. Hancock, it must be F. Groenlandicus, and having submitted the description to him, I had the satisfaction of receiving his testi- mony to that effect. The specimen is an adult male. Subse- quently (in 1842?), Mr. Stewart obtained what he considered to be a young bird of this species, which was shot at Drumboe Castle, in the above named county.

Mr. Hancock kindly replied as follows, on the 1st of March, 1846, to some queries respecting these species : —