172 The Irish Naturalist. 



MAMMALS. 



Irish FossiI/ Mammai^s. As I have it in contemplation to prepare a 

 map showing the distribution of fossil mammal remains in Ireland, I 

 shall feel much obliged to any correspondents who will be so kind as to 

 communicate to me, the names of localities where well authenticated 

 discoveries of such remains have been made, especially those of late years, 

 and of which perhaps only ephemeral notices in the daily press, if any, 

 have hitherto been published. — V. Ball, Science and Art Museum, Dublin. 



The Irish Rat (Mus hilaeriiicus, Thomps.), on I^undy Isi^and. 

 With reference to Mr. Charbonnier's note on this subject in the Septem- 

 ber issue of the Irish Naturalist, I should like to call attention to the 

 following, which appeared in the Field of April 2nd. last : — " It is 

 always sad to hear of the extinction of any species of mammal or bird in 

 Kngland, and I fear our old English Black Rat is fast disappearing from 

 its last refuge in Lund}^ Island. Until a few years ago the Black Rat was 

 quite common there, particularl}^ on Rat Island; but lately its old enemy, 

 the so-called Norway Rat, has gradually driven it from pillar to post, until 

 there is great danger that the Black Rat will be entirely exterminated." 

 The writer of the above note has kindly informed me that he possesses 

 a specimen of the English Black Rat {Mus rattus), which was captured on 

 I/undy Island. Unfortunately, I have, as 57et, been unable to examine it, 

 and it is possible that it may be in reality a specimen of Mus hibernicus. 

 It would be interesting if it were found that both black rats occur on 

 Lundy Island. Perhaps Mr. Charbonnier can tell us if this is the case } 

 I should be very much obliged if he would kindly give the dimensions of 

 his specimen, or, better still allow me to examine it. — G. E. H. Barrett- 

 Hamilton, Kilmanock, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 



GEOLOGY. 



Perforations in Carboniferous Limestone. — I am sure many 

 readers of the Irish Naturalist will thank Dr. Scharff for his paper on 

 this subject. I believe all who will carefully examine these curious per- 

 forations, will conclude that they were formed by some animated agent, 

 presumably by either the marine Pholas crispata, or the land Helix aspersa. 

 The latter Dr. Scharff believes to be the real constructor. Yet I think 

 the former has got only scant justice. Of course, the "fresh condition" 

 of the perforations seem to be conclusive against referring their con- 

 struction to a distant geological era. But, I think, it can be shown that 

 this ''freshness" is only apparent. From the situation of the rock (/. N. 

 for June) on the side of a steep brae, surrounded by a thick layer of stiff 

 Boulder clay, containing erratics of whin and sandstone, out of which 

 this perforated limestone rock juts for only a few feet, or a few inches, 

 I think it can be scarcely be doubted that at a comparatively recent date, 

 this rock, with all its furrows and holes, was covered up by this Boulder 

 clay, which has now been washed away into the low land by the rain and 

 storms of many years. If this be admitted, there is little difficulty in 

 going a step further, and ascribing the tunneling to Pholades before they 

 were overtaken in their labours by the great climatic change which took 

 place in this country during the Glacial period. Of course, when this 

 rock was covered by the drift clay, it was perfectlj^ preserved It is pro- 

 bable, then, that this tunneling is not the work of any mollusc now 

 living either on land, or in the sea. At the same time, it must be ad- 

 mitted that the rock may have been attacked by a land mollusc after 

 being denuded of its covering of earth, but I never saw in this locality 

 a snail capable of making an impression on a stone. — O. Smith, Nobber, 

 Co. Meath. 



There is no doubt, after the investigations referred to in my paper, that 

 Helix aspersa does bore stones; and it is a common snail in most parts of 

 Ireland. One of the most striking points which I hardly mentioned 

 against the theory of the holes having Ijeen produced by Pholas is that the 

 perforations commence as broad, shallow pits, while small holes, siich as 

 are produced by young Pholades, are quite wanting. — R. F. Scharff, Dublin. 



