Short Notes on Natural History. 



SPINOUS SHARK IN GALWAY BAY. 

 [ZOOLOGIST, August, 1885.] 



On June 26th a large Spinous Shark, Echinorhynchus spinosus, said 

 to have measured nine feet, was captured in Galway Bay by some 

 fishermen, who reported that another was, at the same time, seen 

 accompanying it. This is the second known Irish example, and the 

 first taken on the west coast, the former instance having occurred in 

 September, 1882, when one of these rare Sharks was caught off Skerries, 

 near Dublin (see ' Zool.,' 1882, p. 424). The head and portion of the 

 tail of the present specimen have been secured for the Science and Art 

 Museum. From Mr. Michael Alfred, of the "Galway Express," I 

 learn that, on the 4th of July, a second specimen of this rare Shark 

 was captured by some Claddagh fishermen outside the Aran Islands. 

 It was about eight feet in length ; and, like the latter, was taken on a 

 hand-line used for conger eels, the bait being a gurnard without the 

 head. Depth of water about 30 fathoms. Mr. Alfred adds that three 

 have been caught within ten days. 



WOOD SANDPIPER IN THE COUNTY OF WICKLOW. 

 [ZOOLOGIST, November, 1885.] 



Hitherto the Wood Sandpiper has only been included in the Irish 

 avifauna on very slight and unsatisfactory evidence, and I felt obliged 

 to exclude it from my recently published " List of Irish Birds." But I 

 am now enabled, through the kindness of my friend, Dr. Benson, to 

 announce the occurrence of the first well-authenticated example, which 

 I have just examined, and which was shot by Mr. Smith Cregan (of 

 the Royal Engineering Department) on the 23rd of last August, at 

 Calary Bog, near the Sugar-Loaf Mountain, Wicklow. It was alone, 

 and its flight was thought to resemble that of a Snipe. 



CLUPEA FINTA, Cuv., AT KILLARNEY. 



[ZOOLOGIST, March, 1889.] 



The occurrence of a Shad, Clupea finta, Cuv., in Killarney Lake, 

 was first made known by the late William Andrews, who was informed 

 that " Herrings " were occasionally captured by the fishermen. 

 Charr are also often called " Herrings " in many of the Irish Lakes, 

 and I have obtained specimens of both Shad and Charr from the Lower 

 Lake of Killarney. These Shad are taken by the "trawlers" when 



