Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/260

234 their continued absence I attribute to traps and poison, for of late years it has become the custom to poison the mountain shootings as soon as the season is over, and as the Sea Eagle will eat any kind of carrion it readily falls a victim to the poisoned meat and traps of the keeper.

Greenland Falcon, Falco candicans.—Very rare, and has only once been obtained in the district. A fine adult female was shot by a country boy near Killala, on the 3rd April, 1875, and very fortunately came into the hands of Lieut.-Col. Knox, of Castlerea, who presented it to his brother, Mr. A.E. Knox, of Sussex, the wellknown author of that delightful work, 'Ornithological Rambles in Sussex.' In the winter of 1868, a fine adult male of this species was shot near Belmullet, about forty miles from here, and is now in the collection of the Dublin Natural History Society.

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus.—Resident, and breeds on the high cliffs on certain parts of the coast. It appears to be more numerous in winter; perhaps some addition to its numbers by migratory birds may take place at that season. Lapwings in this locality appear to form a favourite part of its food, and afford some most exciting flights, far finer than any to be witnessed with trained falcons. A short time back I saw the finish of a splendid flight: the poor Lapwing was quite worn out, and in order to avoid the last stoop of the Falcon dropped into the water, but the Falcon was not to be beaten, and, poising herself for a moment, gently lowered her feet and, lifting the Lapwing from the water, bore it away.

Merlin, Falco æsalon.—Resident, but oftenest seen during winter. It nests annually amongst the heather in the neighbourhood of Lough Eask, in the Ox Mountains, Co. Sligo.

Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus.—Very common and resident, breeding in the old ruins throughout the country and in suitable rocky cliffs around the coast.

Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus.—Very common throughout the wooded districts. The young are exceedingly ravenous. In the summer of 1857 a pair built a nest and hatched four young in a larch tree close to the dwelling-house here, and being so near I used to visit the nest almost daily, but on one occasion when looking into it, a short time before the young were fledged, I saw only three birds. On making a closer search, however, I saw a clean-picked leg of the missing one at the bottom of the nest, and the other leg, in a similar condition, lying at the fool of the tree, plainly showing that it had