48 The h'ish Naturalist. February, 



In'voluntary Capture of a Swallow. 



Many years ago, walking by the river Manifold, a tributary of the 

 Dore, I saw a Swallow caught on a fishing line, which was itself caught 

 on a tree. The bird flew backwards and forwards as far as the length of 

 the line permitted, and then hung exhausted temporarily, while from 

 time to time another Swallow descended and attacked the line vigorously 

 with its beak. The prisoner was quite uninjured when released, the 

 hook had passed through the soft part of the lower mandible. It was a 

 pretty sight to see the meeting of the two birds high in the air. 



Laura R. THORNKr<Y. 

 Liverpool. 



In response to a query in the November number of the /. N. under the 



above heading, the following may be of interest : — In the summer of 1882 



I was trout-fishing in Glenariff River, Co. Antrim, and whilst sheltering 



from a thunder-shower under a bank, struck the spike of the rod in the 



ground, leaving the fly-cast floating in the wind. When the shower had 



nearly ceased I noticed the rod bending about in all directions, and then 



found that a Swallow had taken the tail fly! I at once released the 



bird as gently as possible, when it flew away apparently not much the 



worse of being hooked. It showed how well the flies were copied from 



nature. 



Ai,EX. McHenry. 

 Sandymount, Dublin. 



A late House-Martin. 



On November loth I saw at Wexford, just outside the town, a House- 

 Martin flying along and hawking as it went, but though the day was 

 very fine I should be doubtful as to its getting a very full meal. It was 

 flying in the direction of the sea and probably hastening to join its 

 comrades who had preceded it towards the sunny south. I do not think 

 I ever saw a swallow of any kind at so late a date. 



W. F. Johnson. 



Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh. 



A Black Eat on board Ship. 



When on board the Department of Agriculture's steamer " Helga " in 

 the beginning of December, 1903, a black rat, which had been killed on 

 board, was brought to me by one of the crew. Being doubtful whether 

 it was the true Black Rat {^Miis rattiis) or the black variety of the 

 common Brown Rat {Miis dectinianus). I forwarded the skin to Dr. 

 ScharfF, who kindly informed me that it was a specimen of the former 

 {M. rattus). The place of origin of the animal is of course doubtful, but it 

 is popularly reported to have come on board at Derry. 



G. P. Farran. 



Department of Agriculture (Fisheries Branch). 



