258 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) .* 



A male was caught in a trap near Banagher, King's Co., on 

 November 14th, 1909. [About October 12th, 1909, one was 

 shot at Malin Head, co. Donegal ; another at Straidarran, 

 co. Deny. " Both specimens seemed to be immature." 

 (D. C. Campbell, Irish Nat., 1909, p. 256).— Eds.] 

 Grey Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius). 



One was found dead at Kilbeggan, West Meath, on October 

 26th, 1909. Another was killed at the lantern of the 

 North Arran Lighthouse on November 15th. Another 

 was shot at Tramore, co. Waterford, on October 27th. 

 Ruff {Machetes pugnax).f 



An adult male was shot in the Bog of the Ring, Balbriggan, 

 co. Dublin, on November 18th, 1909, a late date for this 

 species in Ireland. 



Varieties of Woodcock and Snipe. 



A "Sabine's" Snipe very dark in colour and showing no 

 stripes on the back or head was shot near New Ross, co. 

 Wexford, on November 19th, 1909. The bird had been 

 seen during the previous season. 



A Woodcock, profusely mottled over the back, wings and head, 

 with white, was shot at Ennis, co. Clare. Varieties of 

 Woodcock are exceedingly rare in Ireland, and I have not 

 met with more than six during a period of thirty years. 



W. J. Williams. 



THE IRRUPTION OF CROSSBILLS. $ 



Notwithstanding our urgent requests for records of Cross- 

 bills, many correspondents had omitted to communicate their 

 observations until after the maps published in the last number 

 had been prepared. We shall be glad still to receive notes on 

 the subject, as we think that the progress of the irruption 

 cannot be too fully recorded. 



It is of the utmost importance to trace, if possible, what 

 becomes of these birds. Will any of them remain to breed ? 



* On October 10th, 1908, I was informed by the Earl of Kingston 

 that a Glossy Ibis had been seen during the previous week on the 

 Shannon, near Carrick-on-Shannon, for several days. This bird, like 

 the two recorded from co. Donegal and co. Derry, showed some traces 

 of white on the neck and was probably immature. — F. C. R. J. 



f Mr. R. Warren informs us that the Reeve reported in our last 

 number (p. ( 232) was shot at Dahybaun Lough, the name being mis- 

 printed Daleybann in the " Zoologist." — Eds. 



J For previous references to this subject c/. pp. 82, 123, 162, 190-194, 

 226-228. 



