Notes. 177 



Wood in Co. Tyrone. He accurately described the bird, with which he 

 was acquainted in Kngland previously. 



Hitherto the Redstart has only been recorded since 1885 as breeding 

 in Ireland at Powerscourt, so that these discoveries of it, both in the 

 same part of the Co. Tyrone, are unexpected. — R. J. Ussher, Cappagh. 



Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) in Co. Meath.— The Blackcap 

 is not mentioned as nesting in County Meath in the table of " Irish 

 Breeding Birds," compiled recently by Mr. Ussher, and I am not aware 

 that it has been elsewhere recorded as occurring in Meath ; but there 

 can be little doubt of its nesting in the county when it is found there in 

 full song on such a date as June 22nd. On that day I heard two different 

 birds of this species in full song in the woods of Slane Castle demesne, 

 and another in the woods of Beauparc. All three were within a mile of 

 each other. — J. E. Paemer, Dublin. 



Birds at Cushendun, Co. Antrim.— I have to record the capture 

 of a young white Rook, at Cushendun, in May. The Spring Migrants 

 appeared as follows : — Swallows on April 1st, the Cuckoo on the 7th, 

 and the Corncrake on the 16th. — S. A. Brenan, Knocknacarry, County 

 Antrim. 



The Quail (Coturnix communis) in Co. Wexford.— With 



reference to some notes which appeared in the Itish Naturalist about this 

 time last year anent the Quail, I beg to say that I listened for some time 

 to a Quail calling in this county on the 20th July. I have not had a 

 nest for over 30 years. — W. MacMieean. 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



Museums Association. 



This young but important body selected Dublin as the place for its fifth 

 annual meeting, andover thirty delegates and associates from England and 

 Scotland attended the gathering held here during the last week in June. 

 Much interest was taken by the scientific public of Dublin in the meeting, 

 and the number of local members equalled that of the visitors from across 

 the Channel. Dr. V. Baee, C.B., F.R.S., Director of the Science and 

 Art Museum, was president. Naturally the staff of that Institution 

 were well represented at the meetings, and Mr. S. A. Stewart, the veteran 

 curator of the Belfast Museum, was also present. Even America w T as 

 represented by Dr. Talmage of Salt Lake City. Dr. Scharff and Mr. 

 Longfield acted as local secretaries and spared no pains to make the 

 meeting successful and pleasant. 



June 26th. — On the morning of this day the English and Scotch 

 members arrived in Dublin. In the afternoon visits were paid to the 

 Botanic and Zoological Gardens, tea being provided at the latter. The 

 party were shown round the gardens and glass-houses at Glasnevin by 

 Mr. F. W. Moore ; the orchid-houses and the Killarney-fern house 

 specially pleased the visitors. At Phoenix Park, Dr. Gordon, President 

 of the Royal Zoological Society, received the members and conducted them 

 to the various houses ; the Orang and Chimpanzee, and the splendid 

 collection of large carnivora were much admired. 



In the evening, the meeting was formally opened in the house of the 

 Royal Irish Academy, when Dr. Baee delivered his presidential address. 

 This discourse on the Museums of Dublin is printed in full in A T atuml 

 Science for July. In it, Dr. Ball traces the history of the various bodies in 

 Dublin which have acquired collections, and shows how the majority of 

 these, entirety or in part, have contributed to the formation of the 

 national institution in Kildare-street. Special attention is naturally 

 directed to the splendid collection of Irish antiquities formed by the 



