1892] Winter Visitors and Winter Dress. 371 



more direct route to the Continent, and do not make their way westward 

 into Ireland, while apparently the rare stragglers which visit Ireland 

 in the late autumn must come from a greater distance than the opposite 

 shores of Great Britain. Some, like the Yellow-browed Warbler, from 

 far eastward ; others, like the Black Redstart in Ireland, and the Fire- 

 crested Wren in Great Britain, from the nearer portion of the European 

 Continent. 



To the last, the Black Redstart is his pet instance of 

 " Isocheimonal " migration. 



He was also an occasional, indeed not infrequent, 

 contributor to the natural history column which one of his 

 friends, under a nom de plume, was editing in the " Irish 

 Sportsman." "The Irish Hare" (Feb. i3th), "Jays in 

 Westmeath " (March 1 2th), " Decrease of Quail in Ireland " 

 (May 2ist), "The Stoat in Ireland " (May 28th), and 

 "Increase of breeding Woodcock in Ireland " (June nth), 

 are among the notes which he sent to this column, selecting 

 as a rule subjects on which he hoped to draw further corre- 

 spondence, with a view to promoting the proper object of 

 the column, i.e. " turning shooting men into naturalists." 

 He constantly, at the same time, 'urged his own correspon- 

 dents to become contributors to both journals, suggesting 

 topics as opportunity arose. 



(Feb. 2*jth, 1892: to Mr. Sheridan.) Thank you very much for 

 your kindness in remembering the Mediterranean Heath. I was de- 

 lighted to see the fresh plant from the wild shores of Achill. They are 

 hardly yet in full flower, which I believe will be about the end of March 

 or beginning of April, and they do not seem to have suffered at all from 

 the frost. They should smell very sweetly when at their best, and I do 

 not perceive any scent now. I am glad that you think well of writing a 

 few short notes, now and then, for the " Irish Sportsman." I am sure 

 they will be very glad to receive your contributions. Could not you 

 send, at once, just a short note as to whether you have any Swans 

 this winter, and how many ? But I want you especially to look after 

 the Irish Hare, and its changes towards becoming white in snowy 

 weather. One week of snow seemed to affect them, judging from what 

 I saw in the shops in Dublin. They resumed their ordinary colour ; and 

 now again, after less than a week of snow, the ears are again whitening, 

 and the grey patch is appearing near the tail. Now, try and think : in 

 Achill, have you, in severe snowy weather, ever noticed the Hares to 

 become partially white ? Have you ever seen j>ied examples ? Any 

 notes on this subject would, I know, be very acceptable to my friend, 

 who is editing the natural history columns. The other little shrub 

 which you sent me with the heather is the wild juniper, the prostrate 



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