132 The Irish Naturalist. June, 1901. 



Amphipeplea (Limnaea) glutinosa in the River Bann. 



Further search for this rare and interesting shell proves that it is 



plentiful along the margins of the river near Portadown, where I took 



twenty full grown specimens at Easter. This is about two miles further 



up than the locality recorded in the Irish Naturalist, 1900, page 48, where 



only a few examples were taken. The mouth of a drain opening into 



the river seems to be their favourite habitat, but I have taken them at 



intervals along the river bank with a scoop. 



Wm. A. Green. 

 Belfast. 



The Common Lizard in Antrim. 



In May, when looking for shells at the base of a wall at Whitehead, 

 I discovered a specimen of this L,izard (Lacerta vivipara). It tried to 

 escape through the grass. I caught hold of its tail, which broke off in 

 my fingers and continued to wriggle for some minutes. 



I had captured the Lizard in a handful of grass that I seized, and it 



now enjoys itself in a glass-topped box, and seems happy when basking 



in the sun. Its beauty is sadly marred by the loss of its tail. I hope it 



will live to grow another. 



Hugh L. Orr. 

 Belfast. 



Early arrival of Swifts in Co. Wicklow. 



While staying with Mr. Barrington lately I saw a large number of 

 Swifts — at least thirty — flying about Fassaroe in the forenoon of April 

 22nd. This is the earliest date at which I have ever seen a Swift ; and 

 Mr. Barrington tells me he has no recollection of its reaching Fassaroe 

 so early in any previous year. I have noted — in fifteen years — the 

 dates on which I saw the first Swift in Dublin between 1882 and 1897. 

 Twice — in 1885 and 1S96 — the date was so early as April 26th, only one 

 bird being seen on each occasion, once it was on April 27th (a group of 

 four birds), once on May 1st (one bird), twice on May 2nd (one or two 

 each time), once on May 3rd (a group of seven), twice on May 5th, twice 

 on May 6th, three times on May 8th, and once — in 1S83 - as late as May 

 10th, when only one was seen. The average date of first appearance in 

 Dublin would seem to be about May 3rd. The number of Swifts seen 

 by me on the occasion of their first appearance has seldom exceeded 

 two ; and it was. therefore, very curious to see so large an assemblage as 

 thirty or more at the unusually early date of April 22nd. 



C. B. Moffat. 



Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford. 



Spring Migrants in Co. Antrim. 



The following early arrivals of birds may be worthy of a notice: — 

 Cuckoo, April 9th ; Chiff-chaff, April 18th; Swallow, April 19th. 



S. A. Brknan. 

 Cushendun, Co. Antrim. 



