King's Lynn, June 28. 1851.
_Frogs in Ireland--Round Towers_ (Vol. iii., pp. 353. 428. 490.).--I
must take leave to doubt the fact, mentioned in Vol. iii., p. 490., of
the introduction of frogs into Ireland first in the year 1696. They are
much too plentiful in the country districts, leaving out their abundance
in the county Dublin, to warrant any such supposition. In the Queen's
County, particularly, I have seen them in myriads. With regard to those
gentlemen who are pleased to import snakes into Ireland, I can only wish
them some worthier occupation.
There are two birds, the occurrence of which about Dublin I do not find
noticed by naturalists. One is the common skylark, the other is the
Royston crow, which, strange to say, is not a migratory visitor, but is
found there the whole year round.
Concerning Round Towers, mentioned at pages 353. and 428., I beg to
refer W. R. M. to the works of Wilkinson, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, and
Moore's _History of Ireland_, in addition to Petrie, Keating, &c. When
in Galway, in January, 1850, I noticed some remarkable instances of
resemblance to Spaniards amongst the peasant women and girls. It was,
however, by no means general; but only observable here and there, in a
few particular instances. Between Galway and Oughterard I passed a girl
walking barefooted along the dirty road, whose features were strikingly
beautiful, set off with long raven tresses and large _dark_ eyes, signs
apparently of her Spanish origin. The town of Galway is full of
interesting memorials of its connexion with Spain, and well repays a
visit. Its ancient prosperity will now be probably revived again, and,
with its singularly advantageous position, and its future intercourse
with America, it cannot fail to rise once more from its ruins and its
dirt, unless prevented by the prevalence of political agitation.