Animal life
/Collections/Natural-History/Animals/Mouse_600)
One of our most popular displays areas on the first floor lets you to take a close look at familiar birds and beasts. It is divided into several convenient sections.
Mammals on show include badger, bats, fox, otter, hare, rabbit, rats and squirrels. The red squirrel is now extremely rare, but you can still spot grey squirrels in the trees around the Mall.
The birds of prey and other birds are grouped by the environment in which they live (habitat). They include water birds, farmland birds and those found in woodland and garden. Other taxidermy specimens in the stores include slightly more exotic species.
If your interests lie in the natural sciences, then the sections on local geology will appeal. They include limestone coral fossils, which indicate that the Armagh area was once covered by a tropical sea. The economic geology also made it profitable at one time for lead and copper to be mined and fine Armagh marble to be quarried.
The Squirrel
The red squirrel is an increasingly rare sight in Northern Ireland whereas the grey squirrel (introduced in 1911, Co Longford) is very common and can be seen in and around the trees on the Mall opposite the Museum.
The grey squirrel out-competes the red for food and has a more varied diet which...
More...
Barn Owl
Anyone lucky enough to have seen a barn owl in the wild will be struck by beauty and silence of this impressive hunter.
Such a sight in is now extremely rare in Northern Ireland with perhaps less that 50 breeding pairs as the birds are susceptible to wet weather, cold winters and loss of suitab...
More...
The Kingfisher
The Kingfisher is one of our most colourful and dramatic looking birds. While they can be seen in rivers and lakes in Northern Ireland, their low rapid flight often results in a blur of iridescent blue as they flash by.
As the name suggests, they hunt mainly for fish from riverside perches or o...
More...
Ask an Expert
If you would like further information about this collection you may contact the
curator by following this link and
completing the short form.