2o6 The Irish Naturalist. October, 



Some New Irish Woodlice. 



I have to record the capture on the sea shore, at Howth, Co. Dublin, 

 of Philoscia Coi/c/iii Kin., in considerable numbers. This species which has 

 not previously been taken in Ireland, has only been found in Great 

 Britain in three localities in Devonshire and Cornwall. The habitat is 

 amongst the rocks and shingle of the sea shore above high water mark, 

 where its active habits make it somewhat difficult to capture, and no 

 doubt account for the fact that it has escaped notice so long. It 

 will probably be found again in suitable localities along the southern 

 coasts of Ireland, and may possibly occur further north, but it is a 

 southern species ranging as far south as North Africa and the Canary 

 Islands. 



During the latter part of August, too, I have taken, in considerable 

 numbers on the southern cliffs of the Hill of Howth, what I believe to be 

 an Armadillidium new to the British Isles, nor can I identify it with an}' 

 of the better known European species. I have given specimens to 

 Dr. R. F. Scharff, who has kindly promised to make further enquiries 

 into its identity. 



Dbnis R. Pack-BkrKvSFord. 

 Fenagh House, Bagnalstown. 



Stock-Dove in County Wexford. 



We have had a small colony of Stock-doves here for the last four or 

 five years. I cannot, however, report any definite increase in their 

 numbers, which as yet, as far as I can observe, do not exceed half a 

 dozen. 



G. K. H. Barrrtt-Hamii.ton. 



Kilmanock, Waterford. 



Fecundity of the Chaffinch. 



Mr. Butterfield, in his note in the July number (p. 140), refers to Here- 

 fordshire instead of Hertfordshire. It is in the last-named county that 

 my friend the Rev. Allan Ellison has carried out /its studies, and it affords 

 me considerable pleasure to support his statement that clutches of six 

 eggs are by no means uncommon, and that clutches under five are un- 

 usual. I write thus after more than twenty years' continuous observation 

 of Hertfordshire birds. 



1 regret I can offer no opinion as to this most interesting question, 

 but I am inclined to agree with Mr. Butterfield that Mr. Ellison's 

 theory is hardly correct. 



W. PERCIVAI, WESTEI,!.. 

 vSt. .\lbnns. 



