Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/268

242 Rook, Corvus frugilegus.—Resident and numerous.

Jackdaw, Corvus monedula.—Very numerous in this district on account of the great facilities afforded for building in the ruined abbeys and castles.

Magpie, Pica caudata.—Very common.

Tree Creeper, Certhia familiaris.—Occasionally seen here. In the fine old timber of the demesne of Belleek Manor, near Ballina, it is resident and common.

Wren, Troglodytes vulgaris.—Common.

Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus.—A regular summer visitant.

Kingfisher, Alcedo ispida.—Occasionally seen in winter, when a solitary bird sometimes visits the shores of the Estuary.

Common Swallow, Hirundo rustica.—Regularly visits this district about the middle of April. The dates of its appearance for the last few years are as follows:—1872, 13th; 1873, 16th; 1874, 8th; 1875, 16th; 1876, 18th; and 1877, 12th of April.

House Martin, Hirundo urbica, Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, and Swift, Cypselus apus.—Regular summer visitants, the Swift making its appearance later than either Swallows or Martins.

Nightjar, Caprimulgus europæus.—Very rare: I only once came across it, when I found a dead bird in one of my fields, on the 10th September, 1860. I believe, however, that it is not uncommon in summer about Hazelwood, near Sligo, about thirty miles from this place.

 

time ago I set to work to examine into the claim of the Pine Grosbeak to be retained in the list of British Birds. I found that a good deal of misapprehension about it prevailed amongst the authors whose works I consulted, and my notes accumulated in proportion to my researches. My papers were then laid aside, in the hope that time might unravel some of the intricacies which baffled me. As I now see no prospect, however, of getting any further information on the subject, I willingly accede to the 