1 91 3- Notes. 163 
nunibeis. They liase come to this neighbourhood, iincl they are deter- 
mined to stay. The Herons were shot because they dev'ourcd many 
Rainbow Trout. I am sorry ior the Stoats, because they are good 
friends to man — particularly in their destruction of Rats. A few months 
since I was a spectator of a fight between a Stoat and a Rat ; I watched 
it from only a very short distance. The Rat had no chance against its 
relentless assailant. Until I had witnessed the fight, I had no idea of 
the extraordinary ferocity and the marvellous quickness and agility of 
the Stoat. In a trice it killed its prey by a bite at the back of the neck. 
It then carried the Rat (a very large one) from one side of the road to the 
other. I interfered for a moment, and the Stoat left the Rat, but in a 
few seconds it appeared from a mass of briers, dashed out, collared its 
dinner, and was out of sight in a few seconds. It was a wonderful 
display of determination, adroitness, and skill. 
Coolfin, Portlaw. \\'. W. Flemyng. 
Lesser White-throat at Rockabill. 
On May 13th a Lesser White-throat {Sylvia curruca) was disabled 
striking at Rockabill lighthouse, Co. Dubhn, and was forwarded to me 
in the flesh. It proved to be a male, and is the first spring occurrence in 
Ireland of this fairly common English breeding migrant. There are only 
two other Irish records, both from lighthouses in October. Careful 
observers may yet discover the Lesser White-throat breeding in this 
country. 
Fassaroe, Brav. Richd. M. Barrington. 
Tree Sparrow in Co. Donegal. 
Having read Dr. Patten's account in British Birds, Jul)', 191 3, of the 
breeding of the Tree Sparrow at Inishtrahull, it may be of interest 
to mention that I have discovered another Donegal colony of these 
birds, besides those already known. This colony, which I should estimate 
at twelve or fourteen pairs (but there may be more) inhabit a small fishing 
village on our north-west coast. Here Tree Sparrows may be seen nesting 
in company with House Sparrows in ivy growing over the walls of an 
occupied house, and in holes and crevices in the walls of outhouses in the 
village. I have seen a nest also imder eaves, where Swifts were breeding. 
The birds are not shy, and can readily be identified. 
Raphoe, C. V. Stoney. 
