Recently published Ornithological Works. 371 



be noticed Mr. Alexander Williams's record (p. 71) of the 

 partiality for ripe oats shown by a large flock of Herring- 

 Gulls on the Kerry coast. That Gulls in captivity could 

 exist upon grain was, of course, known from the experiments 

 of John Hunter, but this predilection for ripe grain in a place 

 where animal food was, presumably, plentiful seems some- 

 what novel. Mr. Robert Warren mentions the acquisition of 

 an example of the Tree-Sparrow from Belmullet, Co. Mayo; 

 it is the first time that this species has been met with on the 

 western side of Ireland since its identification by Mr. H. M. 

 Wallis, in 1886, on Arranmore Island, off Donegal. Mr. K. 

 J. Ussher contributes an interesting paper on the birds of 

 the Connaught loughs, where the Marsh- Harrier may still 

 be seen. Numerous records of Quails indicate that this 

 migrant is returning to Ireland, and breeding there in larger 

 numbers than of late years. The most important novelty is 

 the well-authenticated breeding of the Common Scoter in 

 Ireland ; a discovery due to the watchfulness and patience 

 of Major Herbert Trevelyan, and originally announced by 

 him in 'The Field.' On pp. 201-204 is an interesting 

 notice by Mr. Edward Williams (whose recent death is a 

 great loss to Irish zoology) on the occurrences of the 

 Greenland and the Iceland Falcons in Ireland during: the 

 spring of 1905 in unusual numbers. The former species 

 was quite abundant, and since the publication of the 

 instances mentioned above others have been recorded. That 

 Corncrakes should be met with in winter is not very unusual, 

 but that an example should have attracted attention to its 

 detriment by "craking" on the 31st of January, 1905, 

 deserves notice. The chronicler, Mr. Robert Patterson, 

 remarks on this instance, and on another Corncrake seen 

 running across the road near Belfast on the 19th of February, 

 that " it will be noted that neither of these birds was hiber- 

 nating " ; and if our opinion afford any satisfaction we 

 heartily agree that Crakes which " crake " and Crakes 

 which run are not in that state of torpor which is associ- 

 ated with " hibernation " on this side of the Irish Sea — 

 H. S. 



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