1896.] iSlotes. 189 



IVIeasurciTicnt of a Scotch Fir Stump In Fanct, Co, Donegal. 



— lu July, 1S92, ill company with the Rev. A. Uelap, I took iiieasnrement 

 of a trunk of a Scotch Fir, bared by recent drainage on the shore 

 of Ballyhork Lake, in the " Between Waters," Fanet. The trunk was 

 3 feet 6 inches in diameter. The root at base of trunk were in situ. 

 Obviously the tree had been felled, .nnd the stem was gone. The bark 

 was still on, the peat having been but recently removed. Hazel nuts 

 and oak-wood were in company with the fir. We counted the rings from 

 the centre ; he made out 264, and I made them 234. 



H. Chichester Hart, Portsalon, Letterkenny. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Our Introduced Species.— I am glad to see Mr. P. Ralfe's note on 

 the introduction of the Magpie into the Isle of Man. I had not pre- 

 viously heard of the fact, though Bishop Wilson is also the principal 

 authority for the introduction (in his time), and rapid increase of the 

 Frog. The markedparallelism between the recorded introductions in these 

 two islands (Ireland and Man) is an interesting piece of circumstantial 

 evidence in favour of the correctness of both records, and therefore 

 strengthens the case for the opinion generally held, but to some extent 

 disputed by Dr. Scharff, that the Frog w^as really unknown in Ireland 

 till 1696. 



C. B. Moffat, Dublin. 



WORMS. 

 Freshwater Annelids : An appeal. — During a visit which I 

 recently paid to the north of Ireland, I was fortunate enough to find 

 some very interesting forms of freshwater worms. What I saw convinces 

 me that the ponds, canals, and loughs of Ireland will yield many 

 valuable forms, if only they can be carefully worked. In order that I 

 may make my forthcoming reports as full as possible. I want to appeal 

 to all who are interested in the progress of science in Ireland to help 

 me. The work I want my fellow-collectors to undertake is simple, easy, 

 and not unpleasant. I ask all those who are living near, or visit places 

 where there are ponds, lakes, canals, or other sheets of water, to send 

 me wide-mouthed bottles filled with algae, pond weed, and decaying 

 debris floating about, with just a little water, in the hope that some new 

 forms of Nais and other microscopic annelids may be discovered. I 

 found at least one new species among such material in a small branch 

 of Loch Erne, and have no doubt but that others will be forthcoming. 

 Those who do not mind dredging, or putting their hands into the silt by 

 the side of streams, ponds, and ditches or gutters, might also render 

 good service by sending the material thus collected, either in tins or 

 wide mouthed bottles, labelled Natural History Specimens. 



Hii^DERiC Friend, Cockermouth, Cumberland. 



