224 The Irish Naturalist. [August, 1897. 



House Martins nestingr in Sea-CllfTs. 



That House Martins originally built in cliffs and rocks is pretty 

 evident, and that they do so in many places still is well known ; but I 

 was not aware until last month that they built in overhanging cliffs 

 at Bray Head, about 30 feet above high-Avater mark. There are about 

 seven pairs now breeding there, and from the situation of the nests it is 

 quite possible that the waves might reach them in easterly gales. 



R. M. Barrington. 



GEOLOGY. 



Bog Bursts, 



I have been much interested in Mr. R, L. Praeger's admirable paper on 

 this subject in the Irish Naturalist for June last, and can add another 

 instance to the solitary one he records of the occurrence of this 

 phenomenon in England (Solway Moss). In an article in the Goitlcnian' s 

 Magazi}ie for 1745, the writer states that on " Saturday, January 26th , 

 1744, a part of Pilling Moss, in the district of Amounderness, Lancashire, 

 lying between the rivers Wyre and Cocker, and situate between Eskham 

 House and an estate of Mr. Butler's, of Wild Boar, was observed to rise 

 to a surprising height. After a short time it sank as much below the 

 usual level, and moved slowly towards the south side. In half an hour's 

 time it covered 20 acres of land. The improved land adjoining that part 

 of the moss which moved was a concave circle, containing near 100 

 acres, which was well nigh filled with moss and water. In some parts it 

 was thought to be five yards deep. A family were driven out of their 

 dwelling-house, which was quite surrounded, and the fabric tumbled 

 down. A part of the moss, which was sunk like the bed of a river, ran 

 north and south for about a mile in length and near half a mile in 

 breadth, so that it was apprehended there would be a continual current 

 to the south. A man who was going over the moss, to the eastward, 

 when it began to move, perceived to his great astonishment that the 

 ground under his feet moved southward. He turned back speedil}', and 

 had the good fortune to escape being swallowed up." This incident 

 must have made a strong impression upon the inhabitants of the dis- 

 trict, for it is still talked about, and I have heard the older people, in 

 alluding to some particular event in local history, date from "the 

 slipping of Pilling Moss." 



R Standen. 



