56 The Irish Naturalist. 



shows a commendable amount of minute observation on the part of the 

 authoress, and we are pleased to observe the name of Mr. J. T. Marshall 

 standing as sponsor for the determination of the more critical forms ; 

 where rare or critical forms are concerned, reference to a recognised 

 authority is highly desirable, and adds greatly to the confidence with 

 which the announcement of discoveries is received. Among the rarest 

 species which Miss Warren records from Killala Bay are LejMn clarMoe, 

 Montacuta fcrruginosa fperfect), M. dawsoni, Trochiis dimiinyi, Rissoa proxima, 

 Homalogyra rota, Odostomia warreni, 0. nitidissima, Utriculus cxpansus, Philine 

 angulata, P. nitida. We trust that this able lady-conchologist will continue 

 her labours, and that we shall learn more from her pen of the interesting 

 marine fauna of the west coast. 



BIRDS. 



The Antarctic Sheathbi 1 1 (Cliionis alba) in Ireland.— In the 



Zoologist for January, Mr. R. M. Barrington records a specimen of this bird, 

 shot at the entrance to Carlingford Lough on 2nd December. This 

 species is an inhabitant of the islands lying off the southern portion of 

 South America, and has not previously occurred in Kurope. To what 

 extent its long journey of 7,000 miles may have been aided by man's 

 intervention is a point not easily determined. 



Occurrence of the Little Bustard (Otis tetrax, L.) in Kerry. 



I have received from Mr. N. N. Darcy a fine specimen of the Little 

 Bustard, which was shot on the 30th of December last, near Ballyduff, 

 Co. Kerry, and is, I believe, the fifth example of this rare bird which has 

 been obtained in Ireland. —James Tank, Dublin. 



MAMMALS. 



Breeding of the Squirrel (Sciurus Vulgaris), and Otter 

 (Lutra Vulgaris). — Mr. Barrett- Hamilton (/ns7i Nat. vol. i. p. 127), en- 

 quired about the breeding of the Squirrel and the Otter. With regard to 

 the Squirrel. I can only say that I have met with the young in June. 

 The Otter has come more under my scope of observation. Last May I 

 received a present of a dead Otter to get mounted. I dissected it, and 

 found it in young — it was an adult female — and there were three or four 

 embryos fairly developed. Judging by their size and formation, I should 

 say they could only be two or three weeks old. I have also heard re- 

 ferences made to young Otters being found in July and August. — ^John 

 H. O'CoNNEi/iv, Kilkenny. 



GEOLOGY. 



Coal in Ireland. — Few passages in the evidence given last year 

 before the Railway Rates Commission struck me so much as those in 

 which the difficulties of Irish railways were described by their repre- 

 sentatives. The serious disadvantages at which they are placed by the 

 absence of any native coal suppl}- were strongly brought out, and it was 

 stated that a long period of stormy weather, by delaying their supplies, 

 occasionally caused serious inconvenience. My own knowledge of Irish 

 geology is too slight to enable me to give any opinion on the possibility 

 of coal being worked in Ireland, but I understand that the prospect is by 

 no means hopeless. If some of the subscribers to the hish Naturalist 

 could bring forward evidence on the subject, I think it would be of inte- 

 rest, not only to our readers, but to all who are concerned for the 

 prosperity of the country. It is obvious that the development of manu- 

 factures in England and Scotland has been very greatly promoted by 

 abundant supplies of coal, and it seems to me to be worth while to in- 

 quire (if it has not been done already), whether a similar course of events 

 could not occur in the sister isle. — R. Langton Coi,e, 2 Shorter's-court, 

 Throgmorton-street, London. 



