26 The Irish Natufalist. January. 



Lacerta vivipara on Scariff Island. Co. Kerry. 



Two specimens of the Common Viviparous Lizani were found on 

 July i2th, under a stone on ScarifF Island. The species is of course 

 abundant on the neighbouring mainland, but its occurrence on the 

 islands is perhaps worthy of note. 



S. W. Kkmp. 



Dublin. 



The Irish Vertebrate Fauna. 



In an article in the Zoologist for September Mr. H. E. Forrest draws 

 attention to the absence from Ireland of many vertebrates found in 

 Wales, and puts forward the theory so familiar to Irish workers througli 

 the writings of Wallace, Scharff, Carpenter, and others, that the facts 

 cited are to be accounted for by Ireland having become an island before 

 Great Britain did. 



Crossbill breeding in Co. Dublin. 



To British Birds for November, R. Hamilton Hunter sends a note 

 recording the breeding of the Crossbill last spring near the Scalp. 



Black Redstarts in Co. Waterford. 



I had in my hand to-day (4th November) a female or immature male 

 Black Redstart caught in this house. I liberated it, but before I did so 

 I saw another on my window sill. 



This day twelvemonths I caught a Black Redstart in my bedroom, and 

 on 2nd November I saw another outside the window ; while on 29th 

 October and 2nd November, 1S95, two were caught in this house. The 

 only observation I have made in spring was on 28th March, 1888, when 

 I .saw one of these birds outside the hall door. 



Black Redstarts have been obtained or seen in six successive seasons 

 from 1880, usually in November, on or near the coast of this county. 



This is not the only foreign .summer migrant that visits the south or 

 south-east coast of Ireland in autumn. Examples have been obtained 

 from lighthouses of the Lesser Whitethroat, Barred Warbler, Yellow- 

 browed Warbler, Rufous Warbler. Melodious Warbler, Aquatic Warbler, 

 Tied Flycatcher, and Red-breasted Flycatcher, besides other rarities 

 which Mr. Barrington has announced recently. 



To speak of these occurrences as taking place " on migration" does not 

 explain the strange fact that summer visitants to the continents of 

 Europe and Asia should .so often reach Ireland on their southward 



journey in autumn. 



R. J. USSHER. 



Cappagh Hou.se, Co. Waterford. 



