220 The Irish Naturalist. August, 1903. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Cepola rutiescens on the Ulster Coast. 



A perfectly fresh specimen of this fish was picked up on the shore at 

 Portaferry, Co. Down, on 2ud April. As no one there had ever seen a 

 similar fish, it was sent up to Belfast to be identified, and came into m}' 

 hands. It was 14 inches long, and agreed in every particular with the 

 figure on plate LXII. of Day. I could not find any previous record of 

 this fish from Ulster, but Dr. ScharfF kindly informs me there is au 

 unrecorded specimen in the Dublin Museum, taken by Dr. Creighton at 

 the mouth of the river Erne in February, 1898. This addition to the fishes 

 of Co. Down is preserved in the Biological I^aboratory at Larne. 



RoBKRT Patterson. 

 Belfast. 



Merlins and Peregrines. 



I do not consider Mr. W. H. Workman's surmise that the Peregrine 

 Falcon {Falco peregrimis), is much more common about this district than 

 the Merlin {^Falcon ivsaloji), to be correct. The ]\ierlin is fairly common 

 on upland moors and mountains all through the Counties of Down and 

 Antrim, while the Peregrine Falcon is only to be seen in a few localities. 

 Several Merlins are shot every year in this neighbourhood, but are not 

 preserved, while I feel confident that almost every Peregrine Falcon 

 obtained in Ireland is stuffed. Hence the apparent disparity in numbers. 



Nkvin H. Foster. 



Hillsborough, Co. Down. 



Habits of the Woodcock. 



During the past month (May, 1903) I have had constant opportunity 

 for observing a habit in the Woodcocks breeding here that appears to 

 me of enough interest to deserve recording. Every evening soon after 

 sunset they are to be seen in flight just over the tree-tops. They follow 

 one another singly at intervals of several minutes, but occasionally are 

 seen returning, two together. Throughout their flight they keep up 

 a continual deep-sounding "croak, croak, croak." By taking up, even- 

 ing after evening, a different position, I have been able fairly well to 

 trace the course of their circuit, which they appear to follow round the 

 woods always in nearly the same direction, avoiding, where possible, the 

 treeless spaces. Although only one nest has been actually seen this 

 season, I think there are not' fewer piobablj' than half-a-dozen pairs of 

 old birds now here, and perhaps more. I can discover no other purpose 

 in their flight than the exercise of their wings, and perhaps to satisfy 

 themselves that all is well. The time they choose is the peaceful hour 

 after the hawks have gone to roost, and before the owls are yoX. abroad, 



W. E. Hart. 

 Kilderry, Co. Donegal. 



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