72 The Irish Naturalist, June, 1922. 



NOTES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Curlews' Bg^^s in Wild Duck's Nest. 



Some three weeks ago 1 found a duck's nest (Mallard) in the bog here 

 and it contained ten duck-eggs. About a week later I again passed the 

 spot, the duck flew off, and the eggs were there as I found them on the 

 first occasion. At a th.rd visit the duck was not d sturbed and I observed 

 her at a distance of about four yards, for several moments. Now comes 

 the incident of interest. On the 9th inst. I again passed the nest and got 

 within a few yards of the sitting duck ; she flew off after a second or two, 

 and on looking into the nest found not ten duck-eggs, but three Curlew's 

 eggs, and the duck is hatching these eggs at the time of writing. On the 

 question of the identity of the eggs there can be no doubt as Curlews are 

 quite common in the locality and I have often found their nests. 



Can any readers offer an explanation as to how the change of eggs 

 took place ? The obvious one, of course, is that some persons other than 

 myself, found this nest, took away the duck-eggs and substituted Curlews. 

 Personally I do not accept this theory, as while local boys might, and 

 probably would, rob the nest, they would not, in my opinion, take the 

 trouble or even think of replacing the stolen eggs with others. 



Auburn House, Athlone. R. Pack Beresford. 



The Zoological Record. 



I desire to draw the attention of readers of the Irish Nature list to ihe 

 present position of the Zoological Record. 



Owing to the collapse of the International Catalogue of Scientific 

 Literature in connection with which the Record was published from 1906 

 to 19 1 4, the Zoological Society of London has undertaken to bear the 

 whole financial responsibility "for the preparation and printing of the 

 Record. Owing to the great increase of the cost of printing and to the 

 very meagre support accorded to the Record by zoologists and zoological 

 institutes generally, the financial burden of this undertaking on the 

 Zoological Society is becoming very severe. The cost of printing the 

 Record now amounts to between ;/^i,50o and ;^2,ooo annually, and the 

 Society receives back by subscribers and sales less than 25 per cent, of 

 this sum ; I fear, therefore, unless zoologists are prepared to make greater 

 efforts to support the undertaking, there is a strong possibility that the 

 Council of the Zoological Society may refuse to find this large sum each 

 year. It appears, therefore, to be the duty of every zoologist to help so tar 

 as he is able to support this most invaluable work. All particulars and 

 forms of subscription can be obtained from the Secretary of the Zoological 

 Society, Regent's Park, London, N.W. 8 ; but I may mention that the 

 price of the whole volume is now £2 ids. od., and the price of the separate 

 parts a proportional smaller sum. 



W. L. ScLATER, Editor, 

 Regent's Park, London. 



