96 The Irish Xaturalist. June, 



ZOOLOGY. 



Early Arrival of Spring Migrants. 



The Chiffchaff was observed here on 23rd March, exactly one month 

 earher than last year. My previous earliest date is 25th March in 1907. 



On ist April I saw one Swallow — my earliest date for its arrival being 

 8th April. 



Nevin H. Foster. 

 Hillsborough, Co. Down. 



A Magpie's Flight. 



The Magpie is a very common bird about here. It suffers only a 

 small amount of persecution, and seems right able to maintain itself in 

 spite of the gamekeeper's gun. Abundance of wood, and a neighbourhood 

 of trees is what the Magpie delights in. Its powers of flight depend 

 a good deal on its surroundings. Hereabouts it has only opportunity 

 to fly short distances. It finds perching facilities everywhere. I was 

 surprised therefore during my holiday last September at Tramore (about 

 14 miles from here) to see a Magpie performing a very long flight. The 

 day was a lovely one, very calm and clear with bright sunshine, and 

 hardly a breath of wind. And for a long distance before the bird came 

 near I could see it winging its flight in the upper air. Afterwards when 

 it passed over where I stood I watched it flying a long distance till it 

 became out of sight. It is only a rough computation, but I imagine 

 its flight must have exceeded two miles. It is doubtful, and more than 

 doubtful, according to my late friend, Mr. Barrington, whether the 

 Magpie could attempt a migration, for he says : — " Its non-migratory 

 character is sufficiently evinced by the fact that it has never been reported 

 from a lightship, nor from such rock stations as the Fastnet, the Tuskar, 

 or the Maidens." On a few occasions I have seen large flocks of 

 Magpies, but never could ascertain what it was that had brought them 

 together. 



W. \V. Flemyng. 



Portlaw. 



Corncrake in Trinity College Park. 



On May 9th, at 10.15 p.m., when walking along Nassau Street, Dublin, 

 I distinctly heard a Corncrake in Trinity College Park. In order to make 

 quite sure, I went over and listened at the railings, and there is no doubt 

 whatever as to the observation, which is surely worthy of record. 



J. Mackay Wilson, 

 Currygrane, Co. Longford, 



