igoo.] Notes, 273 



have been secured and identified by scientific ornithologists ? I conclude 

 by thanking Mr. Ussher for the interest he has taken in discussing the 

 subject. Charters J. Pattkn, 



Trinity College, Dublin. 



CoiYiinon Bittern in Co. Down. 



On Thursda)', 9th August, 1900, a Common Bittern {^Botavrits sfel/aris), 

 was shot at Groomsport, by Mr. Walter Smyth, while he was walking 

 along the sea-shore, 



Belfast. Robert Pattrrson. 



Early arrival of Redwing. 



When on abog near Coagh, Co. Tyrone, on 2nd October, three Red- 

 wings {Tiirdiis iliacus) flew past me. They were flying low, in a south - 

 westerl)' direction, and were fairly close to me. 



Belfast. Robert Patterson. 



MAMMALS. 



The Vision of Whales. 



Mr. John Brown's allusion in the October number of the Irish Naturalist 

 to my communication on the local Cetacea, which appeared in the 

 August number, has re-directed my attention to this subject. In con- 

 versation about it this morning with Mr. Wm, Crawford, of Craigavad, 

 who has had many opportunities, when sailing and fishing in this lough, 

 of observing its inhabitants, he expressed the very decided opinion that 

 whales could see above water. Many j^ears ago, before the lough was 

 as disturbed as it now is by steamers, the whales were, if not more 

 numerous, at least more approachable ; and Mr. Crawford said he has 

 often seen them, fifty or sixty feet long, lying quiet, not more than 

 fifteen to twenty yards off"; and he added, " we were sure the beggars 

 were looking at us " Among my books the only reference I have yet 

 found to whales looking about them is in one of the prize essays sent in 

 to the International Fisheries Exhibition at Edinburgh in 1882 (Black- 

 wood and Sons,Edinburgh, 1883, p. 7.) The essay in question, on " Whale 

 fishing in the Faroe Isles," was contributed by Sysselmand H. C. Miiller, 

 of Thorshaven, and in it he states, with reference to the pursuit and 

 capture of a herd of Pilot Whales, ** Now and then some of the M'hales 

 stand erect in the water, with their heads above the surface, seeming to 

 spy." I am aware that neither of these statements answers the scientific 

 part of the question raised by Mr. Brown, and I should welcome further 

 information on the subject. Meantime we know that seals, which lead 

 an amphibious life, must be able to adapt their eyes to seeing both above 

 and below water. I watched a seal for quite a long time a couple of 

 days ago offCultra Point, half a mile from here, and each time it rose its 

 head was projected a foot or more above the surface, and it turned 

 looking round it in all directions, sometimes showing the dark back of 

 the head, and again the lighter fawn colour of the throat. 



Holywood. R. Lr^OYD PaTTERSOX. 



