6 The Irish Naturalist. 



in a country in former times ivS the finding of its remains in a 

 fossil condition, and the bones of the Frog have been found 

 associated with those of the bear and other extinct animals in 

 the caves of Ballynamintra, in the County Wexford. But of 

 as much importance is a knowledge of its present distribution. 

 For if, as we are told, the Frog was introduced into Ireland 

 from Trinity College Park, Dublin, it ought to be most com- 

 mon in the suburbs of the city and get rarer as we proceed 

 westwards, as all the lower animals spread with extreme slow- 

 ness, and radiate outwards from the point where they first 

 obtained a footing. However, as it happens, the Frog is much 

 more common on the west than it is on the east coast. In 

 Kerry it flourishes in great numbers up to certainly 2000 feet 

 on the mountains ; from the mountainous regions of Donegal, 

 I have seen many specimens collected by Mr. Patterson ; and 

 in Connemara I have found it common, though it is absent 

 from the Aran Islands. 



There are undoubtedly few places in Ireland whence the 

 Frog would have less chance of spreading than the College 

 Park, lying as it does almost at sea-level, the current and floods 

 of rivers being generally held to be the principal factors in 

 animal distribution. Besides, we know that frogs and their 

 spawn are killed by sea- water — how then did they reach Achil 

 Island, where we are told by Thompson that they exist. 



I have now stated as much as I have been able to ascertain 

 about the supposed introduction of the Frog into Ireland, and 

 the reasons for my belief that it is a true native, and I hope 

 that any of the readers of the Irish Naturalist who possess 

 further information on the subject may be induced to send it 

 to the Editors for publication. 



THE EARTHWORMS OF IREI.AND. 



BY RKV. HII^DKRIC FRIE)ND F.I,.S. 



Through the courtesy of Dr. Scharff of Dublin, and other 

 naturalists resident in Ireland, I have been able during the 

 past few months to make some notes on this hitherto greatly 

 neglected branch of natural history, and as the subject is new, 

 and any information respecting the classification, identification, 

 and distribution of Irish earthworms will prove of service to 



