1896.] Notes. 191 



Achcrontia atropos at Besstorook.— On vSeptember 26th, 1895, 

 I received a specimen of the Death's Head Moth Avhich had been 

 captured at Bessbrook, and was kindly forwarded to nie by Mr. K. 

 M'Clelland. It is a very fine example, measuring five inches across 

 the expanded wings. 



W. F. Johnson, Poyntzpass. 



Carabus clathi*atus, L. in Co. WIcklow.— In Mr. Carpenter's 

 paper, lately published in the Irish Naturalist, on the " Mingling of 

 the North and the South," I find the non-occurrence of Carabus 

 clathralus in the East of Ireland is specially commented on. I may state 

 that I captured some of these beetles on the Great Sugar-loaf in Co. 

 Wicklow, in September, 1891, and October, 1892 



H. G. CuTHBERT, Dublin. 



FISHES. 

 The Allis Shad in Irish waters. — A specimen of this rare fish 

 (^Alosia commtmis) was caught at Donaghadee early this year, and has been 

 presented to the Museum of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical 

 Society. Londonderry is the only locality given for the species in 

 Thompson's " Natural History of Ireland." 



BIRDS. 



Irish Birds.— In the Zoologist for May, Mr. R. J. Ussher writes con- 

 cerning the reported occurrence of the Gold- vented Thrush and Spotted 

 Eagle Owl in Ireland. The writer gives full particulars, as far as known, 

 of the history of the specimen of each of these birds alleged to have been 

 shot in Ireland, and the evidence which he adduces is strongly in favour 

 of the view that the records are perfectly bona fide, and that these two 

 African species were actually shot in this country. Mr. H. A. 

 Macpherson gives an extract from a letter from Major-General Vallancey 

 to J. C. Walker, dated from Cove, January 25th, 1794, and published in 

 Thirteenth Report, Historical Commission, concerning a bird shot in 

 Co. Cork, which from the description Mr. Macpherson suggests may 

 have been the Buff-backed Heron. Mr. H. Chichester Hart in the same 

 number records the occurrence of three Wood Wrens at Carrablagh, 

 Portsalon, Co. Donegal. 



Spring Migrants at Poyntzpass. — In spite of the remarkable 

 mildness of the season the arrival of these birds was not earlier than 

 usual. The Chiffchaff came on March 24th, the Willow Wren April 8th, 

 the Swallow x^pril iSth, the Sand-Martin April 23rd, the Corncrake 

 April 27th, the Cuckoo April 30th, the Swift May 9th, and the House 

 Martin May nth. 



W. F. Johnson, Poyntzpass 



The Grasshopper Warttler in Co. Dublin.— On the 4th May I 



saw and heard a Grasshopper Warbler {Acrocephaltis lucviits) near Tem- 



pleogue ; it was not at all shy, and allowed me to come within a few 



yards of it without stopping its song. It remained in the same spot for 



three days. 



G. P. Farran, Templeogue. 



