i9oi- Notes. 115 



ZOOLOGY. 



Vanessa io in Co. Sligo. 



In reference to the note on V. io in the March Irish Naturalist, let me 

 say that in last September I saw this insect in greater numbers in the 

 district about Rosses Point (Co. Sligo) than I have yet seen in any part 

 of Ireland. Beneath the inland slopes of Ben Bulben, in particular, it 

 simply swarmed, and I have counted as many as six within a distance 

 of a few feet. James S. Starkey. 



Rathmines. 



Black-tailed Godwit in Co. Wexford. 



On reading in the Irish Naturalist for April (p. 93) Captain Barrett ■ 

 Hamilton's notes on the occurrence of the Black-tailed Godwit in Co. 

 Wexford, I was surprised at the large numbers supposed to have been 

 seen, and for many reasons am inclined to think that his informant has 

 been mistaken, and thought the large flocks flying about were Black- 

 tailed Godwits instead of the commoner and more numerous Bar-tailed ; 

 firstly, from the fact that we have no record of the Black -tailed 

 Godwit visiting Ireland in large numbers, only small parties being met 

 with, or solitary individuals seen amongst the Bar-tailed flocks ; and 

 secondly, from the difficulty, or rather the impossibility, of distinguishing 

 them when associating with the Bar-tailed, unless sufficiently near 

 for the white base of the tail feathers to be seen or the black 

 baud across their ends. When in flight the white bar of the 

 secundarus across the wing is also a mark of distinction, but still is 

 not easily seen on a bird flying in the middle of a large flock of the other 

 species, Thompson does not mention any large flocks being met with 

 in his time. In this district the Bar-tailed Godwit is a very rare and 

 irregular visitor, and, although I have been shore-shooting and punt- 

 shooting for many 3-ears past, I have very few notes of its visits. In 

 March, 1859, when in my punt near the Island of Banuros, near Bartragh, 

 I saw a bird in company of some Bar-tailed Godwits, and my attention 

 was attracted by the white base of the tail feathers. In May, 1863, a 

 specimen in full summer plumage was shot by Mr. Hanly near Belleek, 

 on the tidal part of the river, and on the 6th of November, 1S76, I got a 

 shot at some Lapwings and Redshanks, picking up a Bar-tailed Godwit. 

 a Black-tailed Godwit in winter plumage, and thirteen Lapwings and 

 thirteen Redshanks. I did not recognise the Black-tailed until picking 

 up the dead birds after the shot. 



On the 29th June, 187S, when down near Bartragh in my punt, I 

 observed a lovely pair of these birds in full summer plumage ; they were 

 among a lot of Bar- tailed Godwits. 



The last occasion of a visit of this species was on the 3rd of September, 

 1881, when a fine specimen was shot near Rosserk Abbey by the late Mr. 

 Wm. Jackson, of Kelanly. Since that date I have neither seen nor heard 

 of any visiting this district, although Mr. A. C. Kirkwood is also 

 keeping a keen look-out for an} 7 visitors to the bay or estuary. 



Moyview, Ballina. Robert Warren, 



