164 The Irish Naturalist. April, 1907. 



after seeing many in the Atlantic, X. and S., on fonr voyages : — 

 In flight the neck is outstretched to full extent, and this produces 

 the appearance of a whitish collar, while the head-cap looks dark and 

 detached.'' 



It ma}* be remarked that the Great Shearwater has been observed in 

 the vicinity of our islands during the summer and autumn months, 

 including November, one occurrence in December being recorded by 

 Mr. Dresser. The Sooty Shearwater, which Mr. Farran did not meet 

 with, has been most frequently seen off Ireland in September, sometimes 

 then in company with Great Shearwaters (see Irish Naturalist, 1901, p. 42, 

 and 1905, p. 43). 



R. J. USSHER. 



Cappagh, Co. Water ford. 



Irish Notes of Birds and Mammals. 



The December issue of the Zoologist contains "Disappearance of many 

 of our home-bred Birds in autumn," by Robert Warren. The following 

 number contains a note on " An apparent hereditary transmission of a 

 mutilation in the Domestic Cat," by W. F. de V. Kane, and "Is the 

 Weasel a native of Ireland ?" by R. Warren. In the February number is 

 a note on the " Hawfinch at Ballinasloe,' 1 by Rev. W. W. Flemyng, another 

 on " Sabine's Snipe in Ireland." by W.J. Williams, "Some rare visitors 

 to Bartragh Island, Killala Bay," by R. Warren, and " Iceland Gulls in 

 Donegal," by J. Steele-Flliott. 



Superfoetation in Sheep. 



On Jan. 25, 1907, one of my ewes gave birth to a fine strong lamb. It 

 was the first this year at Fassaroe. On Feb. 21st she had twins, fully 

 developed, healthy lambs, but rather weakly. It was interesting to 

 watch the ewe trying to attend to both families, so unequal in age and 

 size. One of the twins died when two days old, the others are alive and 

 well. The twins had the black points of a Shropshire sire. The first 

 born lamb resembled the mother, a Roscommon ewe. 



The usual period of gestation in sheep is about five mouths; the 

 interval between the two families in this instance was 27 days. The 

 technical problems of this interesting case I leave to veterinary journals. 

 Though I have been personally interested in the births of many thousands 

 of lambs, this phenomenon never occurred before to my knowledge. I 

 believe superfcetation is not unknown in sheep, but its occurrence is most 

 exceptional. 



Richd. M. Barrington. 

 Fassaroe, Bray. 



