6o The Irish Naturalist, [Feb., 1897, 



Fork-tallcd Petrel on Lougrh Foylc. 



My attention has been called to a note in the L-ish Naturalist {\o\. v., p. 320) 

 in which my name appears as having shot a " Fork-tailed Petrel on the 

 shores of Lough Fo^'le." That I shot such a bird is true, but the infor- 

 mation given by the correspondent, Mr D. C. Campbell, is not strictly 

 correct. As it would appear from his note that his information was 

 supplied by me, I think it well to send this contradiction. 



I am engaged in making a survey of Lough Foyle, and cover a distance 

 of about 12 miles on the lough daily, hence I have most exceptional 

 opportunity of observing the appearance of the various birds which 

 frequent Lough Foyle. 



Ci^aUDe; W. BUCKI.E. 



MAMMALS. 



A Plag^ue of Rats at Cushendun. 



These rodents have rapidly increased during the summer and autumn ; 

 ever}' hedge-row is burrowed with them — hundreds have been killed, 

 and still they are very numerous. The Stoats seem to have succumbed 

 to some disease, as they were very numerous in the district ; this may 

 explain the multiplicity of rats. Starlings have also decreased for some 

 reason. 



Si.. Arthur Brenan. 



GEOLOGY. 

 The Kerry Bog Disaster. 



The recent disastrous bog-slide in Kerry has furnished an opportunity 

 for the scientific investigation of these curious phenomena which has 

 not been neglected. The Royal Dublin Society without loss of time 

 appointed a Committee, consisting of Prof. Sollas, Mr. Praeger, Dr. 

 Dixon, and Mr. Delap to investigate the circumstances of the outburst ; 

 their report was laid before the Society on January 19. and will be 

 published shortly. Prof- Cole visited the spot as early as possible, and 

 has published in Nature of January i6tli his account of the disaster and 

 its geological aspects. It is to be hoped that these reports may lead to a 

 systematic investigation relating to the stability of bogs. Serious 

 damage has on many occasions been done by bog-bursts in Ireland ; 

 and there can be no doubt that simple precautions properly applied 

 would obviate the risk of further disasters of the kind. 



