1923. Notes. Qi; 



The American Grey Squirrel in Ireland. 



In the course of an enquiry into the present distribution of this alien 

 species {Neosciurus carolinensis) in the British Isles, I have learned that 

 there is one established colony, at any rate, in Ireland. This is at Castle 

 Forbes, County Longford, where the Earl of Granard, about twelv^e years 

 ago, received some dozen Grey Squirrels from the stock at Woburn, Bed- 

 fordshire, and since then they have increased so greatly as to become a 

 pest. About four years ago over three liundred were killed in the course of 

 the year, but the difficulty of having fire-arms in Ireland at present renews 

 the squirrel's chances. It has spread from Castle Forbes to places over ten 

 miles away, passing on its journey some miles of bog, without a single tree. 

 Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S., has kindly placed the above information, 

 communicated to him recently by the Earl of Granard, at my disposal. 



Hugh Boyd Watp. 

 London. 



Arrival of Spring Migrants in 1923. 



The time of arrival of spring migrants this year was on the whole about 

 the average dates for this district as published in Irish Naturalist, vol. 

 xxvi, p. 123. The WQiitetroat was observed in numbers on 6th May 

 ■ — only a couple of days late. The Chiffchaff is one of three species which 

 arrived in advance of average time, being noted on 28th March, Rev. R. N. 

 Morrison's note (p. 51, ante), constitutes it is believed the earliest record 

 for this bird in Northern Ireland, his observation being made about 1 1 

 miles from here. The Willow-Wren was not seen till 26th April, almost 

 a fortnight later than average. Of the Sedge- Warbler and Grasshopper 

 Warbler no information is available for this year. The Spotted Flycatcher 

 was somewhat late not being observed till 19th May. The Swallow on 

 1 6th April, was only a few days late, but the House-Martin seen on same 

 date (and almost daily thereafter) proved nearly three weeks earlier than 

 normal. Sand-Martins were present at their nesting haunts in considerable 

 numbers in the last week of April, but the date of their arrival was not 

 ascertained. The Swift first appeared on the 3rd May ; the Cuckoo on 

 23rd April ; the Landrail on 29th April ; and the Common Sandpiper on 

 4th May, — all about the expected dates. All the spring migrants appear 

 to be here in about their wonted numbers except the Cuckoo, which has 

 proved exceptionally scarce this year, and indeed was seldom seen or 

 heard after the cold snap during the second and third weeks in May. 

 Two or three Common Terns (probably non-breeding birds) generally 

 frequent the lakes here from May till August, but this year none were 

 observed. 



Nevin H. Foster, 

 Hillsborough, Co. Down. 



