J9o8. Notes. loi 



ZOOLOGY. 



Supposed Occurrence of the Spoonbill. 



The following may be of interest : — Whilst talking to a small local farmer 

 living on the estuary of the Shannon near Foynes, Co. Limerick, the 

 other day, about birds, he said to me (I give his words as well as I can 

 recollect them) — " Please, sir, what would this bird be ? I shot it here on 

 the mud in the hard frost of 1905. It was all white, and had legs long 

 like the Crane (of course he meant Heron), and had a bill what got 

 bigger as it got out, and flat like." Surely this can only be an unrecorded 

 occurrence of the Spoonbill. 



It may also be of interest to some that during the last two winters I 

 have found Gadwalls to be not at all uncommon on Lough Key, Co. 

 Roscommon. The winter i9o6-'o7 we killed two males, and this last 

 winter four males and three females. These I identified, but very pro- 

 bably more were shot when I was not present. They seemed to be as a 

 rule by themselves, and usually in the most seel ided and reedy bays of 

 the lake, in pairs. 



This seems to me to indicate that they are now visiting Ireland more 

 frequently than in previous years 



Henry G. O. Kridgeman. 



Royal Hospital, Dublin. 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



EOYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Badger from Mr. C. A. M. Alexander, a Mute 

 Swan from the Countess of Kilmorey, a Black Swan from Mr. J. W. 

 Turner, two Gulls fiom Mrs. Gordon, a Macacque Monkey from Dr. R. 

 Martin, sixteen Variegated Mice and a Sparrow Hawk from Mr. John 

 Cliper, an Egyptian Flat-tailed Field-Mouse from Capt. J. W. Gippings, 

 a number of native birds from Mr. W. W. Despard, a Ferret from Mr. M. 

 M'Murdo, and a White Ferret from Mr. W. Bnnis. Among the recent 

 births in the Gardens are a Black-striped Wallaby, a Great Wallaroo, and 

 a Brown Lemur. Noteworth}- acquisitions by purchase are two Vervet 

 Monkeys, a Brown Mouse Lemur, a Black Lemur, six Rheas, two hybrid 

 Golden-Amberit Pheasants, two Welka Rails, and an American White- 

 headed Eagle 



A portion of the open-air rockery is now used for the display of several 

 large vultures, which show admirably in such comparative freedom. 

 The pair of 3'oung Chimpanzees — " Barney " and "Jenny" — continue to 

 attract much attention from visitors. " Barney' " was attacked in March 

 by a serious bronchial complaint, but, thanks to the care of the superin- 

 tendent and keeper, he has made a perfect recovery, and the two apes 

 are now as lively and playful as possible. 



