Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/17

Rh strength and thickness of the skull would almost to a certainty render the blow unavailing : and in the fourth place, supposing the females domesticated, and the occasional tenants of sheds and other build- ings, we may well imagine that the males were excluded from such buildings by the enormous size of their antlers. Perhaps a few only of the males, as in our cattle, were suffered to become adult, one male sufficing for many females. Perhaps the males were allowed free range, the females only being permitted at stated seasons to accompany them. In fine, the more we investigate probabilities, the more we reason from present experience and knowledge, the less difficulty shall we find in the w^ay of believing the gigantic deer of Ireland, an animal coeval with man and subservient to his uses.

I beg to invite particular attention to M. Deby's papers (Zool. 1462 and 1528) on Whales. They are admirably written, and display a very unusual knowledge of the most obscure order of vertebrate animals.

In records of new Birds, the present volume is unusually rich : the Spotted Eagle (Aquila nævia), is reported by Mr. Davis as having occurred in Ireland (Zool. 1207) ; but I regret to add that subsequent records on the same subject must be received with caution : Mr. Fisher, who has lately visited the west of Ireland, is persuaded that no third species of eagle occurs in any abundance ; the record of this bird as British, must therefore be limited to two examples, one of which escaped, and the other is preserved in the Museum at Dublin. The Great Belted Kingfisher (Alcedo alcyon) has occurred twice in Ireland as reported by Mr. Ball (Zool. 1212) : other specimens have been offered for sale as Irish, but must be regarded with doubt. The Australian Spine-tailed Swallow (Acanthylis caudacuta) has been killed in Essex, as reported by Mr. Catchpool (Zool. 1492). The Red-billed Whidah-bird (Emberiza vidua) and Crimson Weaver-bird (Euplectes ignicolor) are reported from the coast of Kent by Dr. Plomley (Zool. 1497 and 1499).