132 The Irish Naturalist. August, 



25 within eight, of the average, March 29th. Of the three 

 outside dates two are on the " early side " of the zone 

 (March i8th, 1884 and 1894), and so are not due to faulty 

 observation, but probably to the genial weather that 

 prevailed in both those seasons ; while the other (April 

 7th, 1900) is only one day outside the zone on the bad side. 

 This year the Chiffchaff's first appearance here was on 

 April 13th, or fifteen days from the average date. At 

 Killanne Rectory, two miles off, it was heard by Miss 

 Cooper one day sooner, so a small migration wave had 

 probably arrived about that time. 



For the Willow- Wren I had until this yesx 17 records, 

 of which 13 were within four, and all within seven days 

 of April loth. This year the bird was not seen or heard 

 until April 22nd, twelve days behind its average. The 

 Swallow was also later than I had ever previously known 

 it, arriving (April 24th) simultaneously with the quite 

 punctual Cuckoo. The Corncrake and other migrants of 

 the " late batch " were, as a rule, up to their usual times. 



Mr. Burkitt's dates for the Corncrake are surprisingly 

 early — my average from 28 notes of this bird's arrival at 

 Baltyhyland is April 27th, six days later than his — and 

 I can only suggest as a possible answer to his query on the 

 subject that the soil of the country around Lough Erne 

 is favourable to an early growth of such vegetation as suits 

 the Landrail for cover. In many parts of the country 

 this species would be puzzled where to bestow itself, unless 

 in really forward years, at so early a date as April 21st. 

 About Ballyhyland this year, though arriving on the 25th 

 of the month, it was compelled by the backward state of 

 the young grass and corn-crops to take refuge in furze- 

 knocks, and for more than a week afterwards these were 

 the only kind of cover from which its voice could be heard. 



There are, I must add, cases of abnormal dates not at 

 all so easy to explain as those that coincide with exception- 

 ally genial or harsh weather, or that may be governed by 

 special local conditions. For example, the"*^' astonishing 

 rush of early Swallows into many parts of Ireland in March, 

 1903 (for particulars of which see R. J. Ussher's note in 

 the Irish Naturalist, vol. xii., p. 198) does not appear to 



