1923. Notes, S^ 



The Malahide Tern Colony. 



It may interest some readers of the Irish Naturalist to know that the 

 current number of " British Birds " contains an article of mine on the 

 Malahide Tern colony in Co. Dublin. 



While we know from the Natural History of Ireland (1851), vol. iii., 

 that Thompson recorded the breeding of the Little Tern [Sterna a. albifrons) 

 in 1840, the Common Tern (5. Mr undo) in 1837, and possibly the Arctic 

 Tern (5. paradisaa), on the Malahide shore, attention is drawn to the 

 fact that the sandbank forming the present side, of the colony did not 

 exist at that time. This is clearly shewn by a diagram of the main bank 

 prepared from the 6-inch Ordnance maps of 1837 and 1909. The earliest 

 breeding record of any of the larger species of Terns on the present site 

 appears to be that of a pair of Common Terns in 1890 (Ussher & Warren's 

 Birds of Ireland, p. 320). Some further records from 1900 onward are 

 also given. 



Amongst other items of interest contained in the article is the first 

 announcement in print that Malahide was the scene of the writer's dis- 

 covery of the breeding of the Roseate Tern {S.s. dougalli) in 1913, recorded 

 British Birds, vol. vii., and Irish Naturalist, 191 4. Some particulars are 

 also given of an attempt made to breed there by three pairs of Sandwich 

 Terns [S.s. sandvicensis) in 1922. 



In addition, extracts from notes of visits made to the colony in the 

 years 1915, 1919, 1920, 1921 and 192 2 are appended, and in conclusion 

 some comments are made on the behaviour of the birds prior to the 26th 

 June, 1922, when, as many readers will be aware, the terns abandoned the 

 breeding ground, leaving their eggs to the mercy of the marauding Gulls, 

 Rooks, etc., as reported by Lt.-Col. H. A. F. Magrath in the Irish Times 

 about that time, and in British Birds (vol. xvi., pp. 168-170). 



Dublin. Geo. R. Humphreys. 



Helicella itala L. : an addition to the Fauna of Lambay. 



When visiting this island on 27th June, I found a semi-fossil example 

 of this shell in a sandy deposit of no great age on the cliffs between Carnoon 

 and Talbot's Bays, and I have but little doubt that it still lives in the 

 same neighbourhood though time prevented my searching for it on that 

 occasion. This species was not taken on Tambay during the survey of 

 the island — 1904-6. ^ 



A. W. Stelfox. 



Rathgar. 



1 Sec Irish Naturalist, vol. xvi., p. 41, 1907. 



