52 Ths Irish Naturalist. May, 1923. 



Variation in Size of Eggs of the Lesser Tern. 



While the eggs of the Lesser Tern vary considerably in ground colour 

 and markings, and sometimes in shape, I have rarely noticed a very great 

 difference in size. The dimensions usually range from i .2" x .87" to i .3" 

 X 1 .0". In June, 1921, I obtained specimens from a nest in Co. Dublin, 

 which measured, respectively, 1.05" x .75" and .95" x .75". The 

 abnormal sizes of these eggs at first made me doubt if the nest did belong 

 to the Lesser Tern. However, the general appearance of the eggs, together 

 with the situation of the nest, and last but not least the kind help of Mr. 

 C. B. Moffat in identification have led me to the conclusion that they 

 were laid by none other than our delightful little summer visitor the 

 Lesser Tern. It would be interesting to know if any readers of the Irish 

 Naturalist have ever observed any Terns' eggs so small as these. 



F. W. Jeffers. 



DubUn. 



BOTANY. 



Early Flowers. 



Owing to the exceptionally mild winter several plants have been 

 flowering in this neighbourhood months before their normal time. On 

 i6th December I saw Primroses in a sheltered lane^ — -apparently in flower 

 for at least a week — ^and the Lesser Celandine a few days later. Between 

 the ist and 4th January I found no less than twenty-six species in bloom; 

 the majority were of course survivals, but the following were of fresh 

 growth :— Cardamine hirsuta, Capsella Bursa-pastoris, Geranium Roher- 

 iianum, Poteniilla Fragariastrum, Geum uvhanuni, Sanicula europcsa, 

 Lapsana communis, Crepis virens, Veronica agrestis. 



C. J. Lilly. 

 Limavady. 



On March 31, along the County Down shore of Belfast Lough, I saw 

 Wild Hyacinth [Endymion nutans) in flower in two places — -this is quite 

 the earliest date I have for it. To show how mixed the flowering times 

 are this spring, I may add that at the same time and place Blackthorn 

 {Prunus spinosa), usually about six weeks earlier, was still largely in bud, 

 and a fortnight later, at Dundalk, near sea-level. Marsh Marigold (Caltha 

 pahistris) another March flower, was just at its best. • •• 



R. Lloyd Praeger. 

 Dublin. 



Mr. D. C. Campbell sends a list of forty-nine species seen in flower 

 about Castlerock, in Co. Derry, at end of November. These are largely 

 flowers of the preceding summer still lingering on. 



