I9I7- Notes. 155 



The Quail in Co. Wexford* 



The present summer has been marked by an unusually large visitation 

 of Quails to this part of Co. Wexford — the largest, probably, since 1893, 

 though there was a big influx noticeable for a short period in the early 

 summer of 1899. The birds have remained with us during the whole of 

 July and well into August, many of the cornfields on moonlight nights 

 resounding with the challenge cry that seems to have gained for the 

 Quail its local name of the '" wet-weather bird "— a name that has perhaps 

 died out, though I heard it from an old farmer in this neighbourhood in 

 1904, and " wet weather " is a much better rendering than " wet-my-foot ' ' 

 of the trisyllabic cry, accentuated as it always is on the second syllable. 

 Some Quails, I believe, now come to us every summer, but in 191 6 I only 

 heard the note once. 



C. B. Moffat. 



Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford. 



Fulmar Petrels at Inishtearaght. 



Last April, when staying on Inishtearaght, 1 observed a few Fulmar 

 Petrels on a great number of occasions. The birds, though not seen 

 to alight, usually hugged the precipitous cliffs for hours at a stretch 

 on both north and south sides where Kittiwakes and Auks were 

 preparing to breed. I have not as yet had any positive evidence that the 

 birds are breeding on Inishtearaght this season, but may be able to find 

 out before the season is over. Seeing that the Fulmar Petrel has estab- 

 lished itself as a breeding species in goodly numbers at the Skelligs, a 

 neighbouring island, it is very likely that an overflow of birds may have 

 proceeded to Inishtearaght for breeding purposes. 



C. J. Patten. 



University, Sheffield. 



Sandwich Terns breeding on Mutton Island, Gahvay. 



I am much indebted to i\Ir. John Glanville for letting me know that 

 the Sandwich Tern is breeding this year in small numbers on Mutton 

 Island, Galway. This is a newly-discovered breeding haunt of this fine 

 tern, and the species, nowhere numerous around our coast, (as far as our 

 present knowledge goes), deserves rigid protection. Mr. Glanville tells 

 me he is most anxious that the birds should not be molested, and that 

 he will do all he can to watch and drive off egg-raiders. 



C. J. Patten. 



The University, Sheffield, 



