88 The Irish Naturalist. [Marcli, 1898. 



been asked both b}' the London Secretar}' of the Congress (Prof. F. J. 

 Bell), and by the Royal Zoological Societ}- of Ireland to work up 

 interest in the matter in this country, and he will be glad to furnish any 

 information on the subject. 



BIRDS. 

 Ornithological Notes from Kilkenny. 



Mr. John O'Connell, junior, of Kilkenny, has been good enough to 

 send me a specimen each of the Water Rail {Rallus aquatiais) ; the 

 Grey Phalarope iPhalaropiis fiilicarms)^ a brown variety of the Rook 

 {Corvus frugilegus), and a Rook in which the mandibles are deformed, 

 the upper crossing the lower. The Phalarope was shot by Mr. 

 O'Connell near Kilkenny in October, 1897, and the brown Rook was 

 received by him in April of the same year. 



He also informs me that six or seven years ago he shot a Crossbill 

 (JLoxia curvirostrd) in Kilkenny, and observed a small flock in a Larch 

 wood. He has not heard of any more being in the neighbourhood 

 since that date. 



G. E. H. Barrett-Hamii^ton. 



Kilmanock, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 



Young Redbreasts in February. 



It may be of interest to record that in a garden here six young Robins 



{Erithacus rubecula) have been hatched, and are now (Februar}- 7) fully 



fledged. Most readers of the Irish Naturalist will doubtless have heard 



of the arrival of the Cuckoo. 



T. B. Gibson. 

 Ferns, Co. Wexford. 



MAMMALS. 



Seals In the River Lee at Cork. 



A correspondent sends us a cutting from a Cork newspaper, recording 

 the occurrence of Seals observed swimming in the Lee, off the Marina 

 in that city, on the loth January. One specimen about three feet long 

 was captured alive. The presence of these animals up a river ten miles 

 from the sea is noteworthy. 



BOTANY. 



PHANEROGAMS. 



Flora of Co. Wexford, 



To the foiirnal of Botany for February Rev. E. S. Marshall contributes 

 a valuable paper on the results of ten days' botanizing in Co. Wexford 

 in June, 1897. Callitriche truncata is definitely added to the Irish flora, and 

 a more attractive addition is furnished by Lcucojum icJivum^ which Mr. 

 Marshall considers truly native. Further information in favour of the 

 view that Sisyrinchiwn californicum is native in the Slanej- marshes is 

 given, and new stations for a number of rare plants are listed. 



