The Wolf (Canis lupus) in IrelandAuthor(s): W. H. WorkmanSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jan., 1926), pp. 43-44Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25531165 .

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January, 1926.] 43

It seems to me that to be of any real value record work in

any particular district must extend over a period of years, so as to show without doubt whether any particular species is a

regular inhabitant, a temporary visitor, or

merely a casual stray,

and must include repeated records of the occurrence of any particular species, however common, throughout the district. This was brought home to me very vividly during faunistic work in the Clyde sea area, where I dredged one particular small area

a great many times a year for some six years. On one occasion

during the fifth year I obtained about a dozen species not found

previously, owing to the fact that -strong undercurrents, due to violent weather, had carried in Laminaria and other algae, to

which these species adhered. Had this been my only experience of that locality I should have recorded these as permanent in habitants whereas they

were purely casual strays.

The notes on the Bee Orchis and on the Fauna of a Tank on

p. 18 of the September number of this journal show the im

portance of period-records from a slightly different aspect, while that on Inula salictna stresses the urgency of work of this kind before large areas, especially such as are

practically virgin, shall

be changed by the hand of man.

This same "

improving "

hand of man, and the never idle tools of Nature herself which are gradually changing the aspects of many parts of the country make it equally urgent that cor

responding records, including a large number of pictorial ones, be kept of landscapes, seascapes, architecture?both ancient and

modern, and of the ordinary appliances of every-day life. This last will no doubt appear to be ridiculous to many, but can any one reasonably doubt the fact that the jaunting-car, the jingle, and thousands of other everyday necessities of our own time will be as little known to our great grandchildren as the old hobby horse, the bone-shaker, and the hand-loom are to us?

THE WOLF (CANIS LUPUS) IN IRELAND.

By W. H. Workman, E.Z.S.

My friend, Mr. G. Maxwell of theLinenhall Library, has

kindly drawn my attention to some exceptionally interesting records of the wolf in Ireland discovered by Mr. Pinkerton in "

The Calendar of State Papers, Ireland," published by the British Government. These records are in the form of letters from Sir George Eawdon to Viscount Conway.

Sir George Eawdon was, I presume, agent to Viscount Conway

"Moyra, 11th July, 1657. . I have at length got a good proportion of moss

and this morning had them put in a box (the skulls or part of them with it) and sent it on Monday to find the first passage to Chester; also the dogs which it is a pity to send out of the

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44 The Irish Naturalists7 Journal. [Vol. L

country, especially one of them. They have been about ' The

Collen '

and above Mr. Doynes this six weeks,' and had some courses at wolves whicb exceedingly infest this country."

This letter refers to what we now know as Collin Mountain, which evidently was a stronghold of the wolf.

From same to same. " Lisburn, 7th October, 1665.

. The wolf haunts that park (Tunny) of late and hath killed 3 or 4 of a few muttons, ... so I have put Tot nail upon setting traps and watching with guns and Simon the keeper who is an excellent shot but I perceive no great

woodman, yet I hope will do well being careful and not given to drink."

Tunny Park, referred to in this letter, I understand is the district lying along the edge of Lough Neagh between Glenavy and Portmore.

From same to same. "

Lisburn, 7th October, 1665. P.S.:?The keepers and all our gun men are watching the

wolves that haunt the Tunny Park almost every night." Thompson in his volume on Irish Mammals makes do

reference to the above records, but he gives various records of

wolves and wolf-dogs; it would appear that wolves finally dis

appeared between 1710 and 1770. Wolf hill, three miles from

Belfast, is one of the places where the last Irish wolf is supposed to have been killed.

Those of my readers who want further information on this

subject should consult The Irish Naturalist, especially Dr. Scharff's article on page 133, Vol. XXXI. and his note on page 93, Vol. XXXIII.

The Irish State Papers are a wonderful collection of letters

doaling with Irish affairs three centuries ago. They are j mine of information on that period of Irish history, and I am sure

it would be well worth the while of some student to delve into their many volumes and abstract some of the notes on natural

history, of which the above is a very good example, doubtless there are many more

probably of even greater interest.

Note?Since the above was written there has appeared in the Belfast News-Letter for September 19th, 1925, an interesting biographical sketch

of Sir George Rawdon from the pen of Mr. F. J. Bigger, M.R.I.A.

THE PETCHORA PIPIT, ANTHUS GUSTAVI SWINHOW, A NEW BRITISH BIRD.

In The Scottish Naturalist for September-October, 1925, Rear-Admiral Stenhouse describes how he obtained this interesting specimen on Fair Isle on the 24th September. He states that it is the first recorded occurrence of this Pipit in the British Islands, and as far as he can ascertain, in

Europe, outside of Russia. The bird nests in the Petchora district, and widely across Northern

Asia, east to Kamtchatka: it migrates to the China coast, Philippines and

Malay Archipelago. W.H.W.

Belfast.

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